Under the leadership of new Head, Kathy Crewe-Read, the College is at a very exciting point in its 152 year history. We are privileged to share a virtual fireside chat between the Head and the President of the Old Stortfordian Society, Alastair Lukies CBE (GH,AH, 80-90) 

Meeting by zoom late in 2020, the Head and Alastair shared their experiences and visions of life at the College and the future for pupils and Old Stortfordians. Their engaging discussions flow naturally and convivially and cover many topics from Boarding in the 21st Century, the role of technology within education in the digital age and the legacy of Old Stortfordians and their positive role within the current College pupil community.

A Boarder at the College in Grimwade and then Alliott House, global fintech innovator Alastair is a former Entrepreneur of the Year and in 2014 was appointed as a Business Ambassador to the Prime Minister for the financial services industry and was also awarded a CBE for services to mobile banking and charity. Today, OS President Alastair, acts as the sole Government Business Ambassador for FinTech and is the Chair of the Fintech Alliance, a government backed multifaceted digital engagement platform which aims to bring the global FinTech ecosystem together in one easily accessible digital marketplace whilst also balancing with his commitments as Founder and CEO of Pollinate International.  

The Head, having joined the College in August 2020 from a Headship of seven years at Wolverhampton Grammar, was keen to share her vision for a school that will provide a complete education for every one of its pupils as individuals and maintain the ethos of unpretentious excellence in all aspects of the academic and pastoral life of the School that she is honoured to lead.

The hugely positive role of all aspects of community flowed through the fireside chat and agreement was made that the strengthening of ties and support across all aspects and demographics of the Stortfordian Community would not only benefit individuals though positive relationships forged but the School as a whole as we come together for the greater good of all.

We are hugely grateful to the Head and Alastair for making time in their exceptionally busy schedules to come together to share their individual viewpoints and talk so optimistically about the future of the College. Special thanks are also extended to College Parent Andrew Buonocore who generously donated his time and expertise to record and edit the fireside chat. 

Please click on image below to view the Fireside Chat