19 May 2023

19 May 2023

Dear Parents

I want to start this week’s newsletter by commending our Year 11 and Year 13 pupils, who started the public examination season on Monday. Their approach to GCSEs and A levels has been exceptional. They are calm, cheerful and supportive towards each other. They have made a tremendous start and their positivity is to be applauded. Thank you to all our staff who have helped make the exam period as pleasant as possible and also to our Year 11 and Year 13 parents, who I am sure are doing lots of soothing and supplying endless sustenance behind the scenes!

Year 5 and Year 6 Residential

Monday morning in school resembled an airport departure lounge, in terms of excited chatter and the significant amount of luggage, as Year 5 and Year 6 parents dropped children off ready for their residentials.

Year 5 had the best time camping in the forests of Blenheim Palace and fully immersed themselves in nature. They learned how to survive in the wilderness, with a range of activities including trap making, shelter building, fire building and camouflage. They also learnt the basics of First Aid and got to test their newfound knowledge in 'Scenario SOS', in which they stumbled across a crashed plane with some casualties whom they had to save. Bring on the Oscar awards for Mrs Diamond, Mr VJ and Mrs Bowen! It was a fantastic trip, with lots of memories made and laughter had.

Year 6 have spent an action-packed week at Condover Hall, whizzing around the aerial trek high up in the treetops, building trust and communication on the sensory trail (blindfolded in the woods), playing competitive games of archery tag and fencing and spending a whole morning on the lake kayaking, when some people including the grownups may have got a tiny bit wet. The children brilliantly demonstrated the Cranford Values in their varied and challenging activities and were wonderful ambassadors for the school. They have come back to school tired, muddy and full of incredible stories that will last a long a long time.

Year 3 Tea Concert

The Year 3 Tea Concert on Tuesday got off to a super start with a Xylophone and voice performance of 'Now the Sun is Shining', which really did bring the sun out. Pupils then wowed the audience with solos and duets displaying their excellent musicality. The Concert was rounded off with a rousing performance of 'Let's go Fly a Kite' in which pupils sang their hearts out. Thank you to the Peripatetic Team for helping their pupils prepare for what for many of them was their first time performing a solo in a concert.

Reception and Pre-School Open Morning

We were thrilled to welcome so many parents and children to our Reception classroom on Wednesday morning. There was great excitement, particularly amongst the children who will be starting in Reception in September, as they proudly explored their new classroom. We are delighted to be welcoming many children who have siblings further up the school, in addition to several new families to Cranford, into what is a full, two-form Reception intake. Meanwhile, we also enjoyed enquiries from parents looking at our Pre-School setting, which continues to experience significant demand. Thank you to all our parents who have been recommending Cranford as a fabulous start in life for your child!

Have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes

Dr James Raymond

Headmaster