13 December 2019

The final week of our Autumn Term has brought a whirlwind of fabulously festive events, taking in fun-filled activities enjoyed by pupils and staff alike, as well as chances to reflect on the true message of Christmas.

From an uproarious Junior School pantomime trip and a beautiful Nursery Christmas Show to Christmas parties and two spectacular carol services in Dorchester Abbey, we have whole-heartedly embraced the joy that the festive season brings, whilst remembering that it can also be a difficult time for many. My thanks to all of you who supported Year 10’s collection for our local foodbank.

In the same spirit of charity, I would like to alert you to a campaign being run by the National Literacy Trust. Whilst we know the importance of reading for pleasure, nearly 400,000 children in the UK do not have a single book at home and the charity hope to be able to give many of them the gift of reading this Christmas. Any of you looking to somehow redress the balance of Christmas’ excesses may want to visit their appeal by clicking here.

The end of this week marks the closure of our Year 7 admissions process for 2020 entry and I am absolutely delighted to confirm that September will see a fantastically balanced co-educational cohort entering Year 7, with an extensive waiting list. It is so pleasing to see our 2020 vision coming to fruition in this way and the school continuing to go from strength to strength.

As we head off to the Christmas holidays, I would like to say a temporary goodbye to Mrs Mitcham who is about to start her maternity leave. We wish her all the very best and look forward to hearing her news. Finally, it just remains for me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

With best wishes

Dr James Raymond