10 November 2017

A busy, enjoyable week across the school culminated this morning in our annual Remembrance service. 

We were very grateful to be joined by Major Shane Mann, who as a member of our parent community was able to reflect with pupils on the importance of remembrance. In both Form time and assembly, staff and pupils have been reflecting on our peaceful, happy school community and the importance of remembering those less fortunate around the world, as well as the immense sacrifices made during wartime. At 11 o'clock, we observed a minute's silence with the entire school gathered around the Willow Tree. It was a moving moment as we all reflected on the generations that gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars, including the school's very first pupil, Billy Higgs.

Elsewhere in school, we have been welcoming Junior parents for their Parents' Evening and grandparents of pupils in Years 3-6 for yesterday's Grandparents' Day. The children were really excited about welcoming their relatives to school and the afternoon was a lovely way to share and celebrate their achievements. It was our great pleasure to welcome them into our community for the afternoon. 

Thursday also saw some very different visitors as pupils from Nursery to Year 1 got up close to an amazing collection of birds of prey, including beautiful owls, kestrels and the world's fastest animal, the peregrine falcon. This was a superb opportunity for the children to learn more about these stunning creatures and the boys and girls had a fantastic array of questions to ask. 

I've also been busy this week meeting and speaking to lots of prospective Year 7s as our admissions process for 2018 entry continues. It has been great to learn about their very varied interests and enthusiasms and I'm thrilled to have heard about all the diverse and interesting sounding books they are reading! Mr Cowley and I have also had an exciting week planning for the future of expeditions and outward-bound acitivities across the school and on into the Sixth Form. I look forward to sharing more of this with you later in the year. 

Lastly, I'd like to extend my thanks to all the pupils, parents and members of the local community who joined us last Saturday for our Space Day, the culmination of Space Week. We had over 1,000 visitors to the school and we have been overwhelmed by positive comments and feedback about our visitor, Helen Sharman, and the wealth of activities on offer. I hope that all of you who came along enjoyed the morning as much as I did.   

With best wishes for a restful weekend.  
Dr J Raymond