31 January 2020

It always gives me pleasure to share exciting school announcements with you all, and this Wednesday saw us sharing our plans to bring our Nursery class back into the heart of the school.

The enthusiastic response to the news across the school has been very encouraging and I very much look forward to seeing our youngest pupils move into their newly-refurbished home in Willow Court later this year. Please do take a moment to glance at our Nursery brochure if you have not done so already.

In further building news, the handover of our Sixth Form building is imminent as we expect to complete the formal handover from our builders, J Cashley Construction, at the end of next week. The final aspects of this complex project have really come to fruition this week and we will be opening the doors and sharing this fantastic space with pupils and parents very soon.

Elsewhere in school, it was wonderful to welcome Year 11 parents to school for our post-mocks Parents’ Evening, an important moment in the run-up to the final GCSE Examinations. I congratulate our Year 11 pupils on the attitude to learning, strong camaraderie and the sense of shared purpose which they have demonstrated so far.

In the Sports department, a crack Junior squad headed off to the Manor School for a keenly-contested Cross Country meet that saw us scooping medals and certificates, while our Football and Netball teams scored wins against both The Dragon and St Gabriel’s. Well done to everyone who has represented our school this week.

Staying with PE, I’m very pleased to announce that Mr Olly Deasy will be joining us as Assistant Head (Director of Sport) from September. A highly qualified graduate, with an MSc from Exeter University, Mr Deasy brings with him a wealth of experience, as Director of Hockey at Abingdon School and as the captain of Reading Men's Hockey team. I am sure he will make a fantastic impact on our overall PE provision and we look forward to welcoming him in the Autumn.

I’m also delighted to give you advance notice of two fantastic sports tours which we have added to our roster of trips for the next academic year. Year 9 to 12 pupils will have the chance to travel to South Africa, while Year 7 and 8 will be visiting Spain. I look forward to sending you more details of these fantastic opportunities in due course.

With best wishes

Dr James Raymond