It was wonderful to see so many families gathering together on Tuesday evening for our Christmas Carol Service. My thanks to Tim Spoerer and his team for putting together another joyful evening of songs, readings and music. The children sang with such confidence, lifted by the pride and affection we all hold for them.

It is especially on occasions like these that I feel so very proud of our inclusive, nurturing and ambitious community. It was clear in the church on Tuesday that our tireless efforts are having a positive impact; when children stand, smiling, in front of a congregation and perform live, then you know something magical is happening inside. The self-worth that I have so often championed in my time here, brings each performer the self-discipline and confidence needed to be their best self – and the same is true on a sports pitch, in an art room or in a maths lesson. We all try if we think our efforts will be worth it. And they always are.

There are many ways to measure the success of a school: academic grades, pupil attendance figures, merits and rewards, club participation, and many more. But I will settle for the evidence we all heard on Tuesday night: proud, joyful singing.

As we head into the final week of term, and my final week at the helm of HSW, I would like to send out my sincere thanks to my dedicated colleagues for the hours they put in and the care they invest in their work to make the school what it is. The word outstanding is often overused; for me it’s about standing out; and if there is one thing that makes HSW stand out, it is this: we know our children, and we hold unshakeable belief in their potential.

Have a great weekend before we return again on Monday to enjoy this most special time of year together, as a family.