We had such a successful whole school assembly this morning, in which we celebrated all the achievements of our students these past few weeks. As you can imagine, there were many certificates and awards to give out! Of all the many accolades, I was most impressed by our HSW Values Awards – an initiative in which we celebrate those students who have particularly encompassed our values and shown kindness to others.

Kindness is the bedrock of who we are and what we do here at HSW. We all have a right to be treated with kindness, but we have a responsibility too to show the same kindness to others – this is how a safe and prosperous community works.

I am proud to say that kindness still remains at the heart of our culture here; despite all the difficulties we have seen outside of our gates – and our hearts go out to all those experiencing trauma and anxiety as a result of world events right now – we will continue to promote kindness, mutual respect and consideration for others. Such an inclusive and nurturing culture rarely happens by accident, it is the result of hard work, discipline and a lot of love. I could not be more proud of our positive culture and I look forward to seeing it work its magic again on the health and self-worth of our students, when we all return after the half-term break.

Until then, may I wish you a safe and happy time together, and a well-earned rest if you can.