17 May 2019

Whilst all terms hold their own highlights, this one is proving particularly exciting with so much to look forward to.

Our Sixth Form building is well and truly rising from the ground and I was able to explore the ground floor rooms and the skeleton of the common room, lecture theatre, fitness suite & laboratory as I visited this week. I’m pleased to say the building is running precisely to schedule and it is genuinely exciting to see it taking such tangible shape. With a little over 12 months left before we open our Sixth Form doors, colleagues are producing some wonderful plans for enrichment programmes, foreign expeditions and sports tours and I look forward to sharing details of these with you imminently.

Far-flung destinations were also the focus of Monday’s meeting with parents about this summer’s World Challenge expeditions to Morocco and Norway. Trips like these provide our students with unique opportunities to meet challenges, explore new cultures, develop self-confidence, build friendships and have some truly amazing adventures. The quiet self-assurance of our pupils in planning and preparing for these expeditions is impressive to observe.

We have also marked the start of Year 10’s tenure as they lead the school in their new Positions of Responsibility. I very much look forward to watching them embrace their new roles and am sure they will do a fantastic job.

Elsewhere this week, we enjoyed a fabulous Year 2 assembly conveying the pupils’ infectious enthusiasm for their history topic on the Great Fire of London and we welcomed Year 6 families for the first of our summer Tea Concerts. The incredible array of instruments which our Year 6 cohort has mastered is superb and they treated us to a truly accomplished and fun-filled musical performance. Well done to all our performers.

Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you at the keenly-awaited PTA Quiz later this evening. As ever, huge thanks to the PTA for hosting what promises to be a fantastic event. With best wishes

Dr James Raymond