28 September 2018

Over the last two days in school we have enjoyed both Junior and Senior Harvest Festival celebrations in assembly.

Harvest has a particular resonance for the school community in our rural location and we have enjoyed the opportunity as a school community to reflect on our school values, the importance of generosity of spirit and kindness and taking a moment to be grateful for all the wonderful opportunities we enjoy in our lives at Cranford House. My thanks to all the families who have donated so generously to Wallingford Food Bank; I am most grateful for your support with this.

Elsewhere in school, a keen group of intrepid Year 10 scientists enjoyed an amazing visit to the Advanced Manufacturing and Research Centre at the University of Sheffield. The pupils enjoyed a remarkable glimpse of the practical application of Science in manufacturing at this cutting-edge facility where elements of Boeing aircraft are designed.

Over in the Music Department, rehearsals for Young Voices have commenced ahead of an exciting performance at the Birmingham NEC in January, while Year 8 singers are preparing for next week’s fantastic Masterclass with Christine Cairns of the Birmingham Conservatoire. The week also brought sporting success for both our Year 8A and B teams against Cokethorpe and a 4-0 victory for our Year 6A team over The Manor.

On Wednesday, we welcomed our Nursery children and parents up to the main school site for their first experience of life in Reception. It was wonderful to see the children making the most of the new Reception learning environment and to talk to parents about this exciting and important transition. Other highlights from my week have included reading to the children at Nursery and in Reception, working with Junior Football Club and speaking to many Year 6 pupils, both from Cranford House and from our feeder schools, about transition into Senior School in September 2019. It has been inspiring to hear about their love of reading, sport, music and much more besides and to talk about their hopes and aspirations for Senior School.

At lunchtime today, I enjoyed a fascinating discussion with Senior School Council on the development of our Sixth Form, Tuck Shop and how we can be a more eco-friendly school. I never cease to be inspired by our pupils’ articulate ideas on how we can improve our school community.

Yesterday evening I was very pleased to join the PTA AGM would like to say a big thank you on behalf of all of the pupils and staff for everything the PTA has done for the school over the last twelve months. We are incredibly fortunate to have such an active and supportive parent body.