Well, we made it to the chequered flag and now the students and staff all deserve a well-earned rest over the half-term week. We shall return to better weather, brighter sunshine and lighter evenings (we hope).

I want to pay tribute to all the hard work and dedication shown by our staff, across all departments, since we returned in January. The students have worked hard too, producing some excellent work and showing good commitment to their studies.

There have been, at times, moments when just a few of our students could have behaved better and I want you to know that we are being very pro-active on this. Our Heads of Year work tirelessly every day to pick up on little issues and prevent them from growing into bigger ones. We don’t always get it right, but we try very hard – harder than most other schools, in my opinion; ours is a community of caring and attentive staff who know their children well and can see the signs when they are not themselves. We shall continue to strive, unswervingly, to provide pastoral care and discipline that we can be proud of, and that which enables us to deliver on the core values that underpin our kind and nurturing culture.

I am sure that with the better weather will come a renewed commitment to our values and to working together as a team, treating all others as we ourselves wish to be treated. This is a great school and a place where students can, and should, flourish.

I wish you all a very happy half-term break and I look forward very much to seeing you again soon for an exciting and productive second half of term.

With kind regards,