I find it hard to believe that we have had only five days since half term;  it is amazing how much the staff and pupils pack into each week of school.  Although it seems a long time ago, I hope that you and your families enjoyed a terrific week’s holiday.

The well-being of our pupils and staff continues to be at the top of our priorities, and it was a pleasure to see such a good number of parents attending our PSHEE Workshop last night.  Those present very much appreciated the opportunity to learn more about our PSHEE curriculum (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and to discuss further the important issue of keeping our children safe when they are on the internet.  Mrs Hall-Tomkin will be writing to all parents to follow up this meeting and to remind you how you can continue to be connected with how we are engaging with your children in these vital areas of the curriculum.

Just before half term, I very much enjoyed another one of the regular meetings which the Senior Management Team has with our Year 8 House Captains, our Boarding Captain, and our two Heads of School.  It is a very valuable opportunity to hear from the pupils how school is going from their perspective, and the staff and I always leave significantly wiser than we were at the start of the meeting about what is really happening on the ground.  In addition to this forum, there are several other ways in which we are constantly seeking to hear the voice of the pupils.  The School Council meets regularly, boxes are situated around the school into which pupils can post any concerns, and Mrs Hall-Tomkin has been busy evaluating and responding to the results of our most recent pupil well-being survey.  There is always more that we can do to improve further the school experience for our pupils and it is vital to listen to the children in order to know how best to do this.

On the subject of our Year 8 pupils, I must mention all of our fabulous guides who were praised so much by all of the visitors for their maturity, respectful attitudes and happy demeanor.  It was particularly good to hear visitors struck by the pride which our senior pupils so clearly have for our school.  The staff and I are all extremely proud of our school and it is very rewarding to see that feeling shared by so many of our pupils.

Since the last Courier, there have been some outstanding pupil achievements for us to celebrate.   Our Prep School team of three for the National Finals of the Pistol Shooting Championships performed with superb focus and skill to finish 5th in the country and, in boys’ hockey, our U13 team has qualified for the IAPS National Finals.   Meanwhile, a very large number of our musicians competed with distinction in the Taunton Festival of Arts, and both our Senior and Junior Choirs sung to a very high standard, coming 1st and 2nd respectively.  It was also a great pleasure to see our drama pupils give such an impressive Performing Arts cafe.  Their mature and exciting performances were as good as anything I have seen before from pupils of Prep School age.  

Looking ahead, please do come, if you can make it, to our Parents’ Association Coffee Morning tomorrow morning (8.15am to 9.15 in the Prep School Dining Hall), and I hope that you have all already noted the fact that the Prep School (and Pre-Prep and Nursery) will be closed on Monday 8th May (except for boarders choosing to spend the exeat weekend in school).  On Monday 1st May (the ‘normal’ May Bank Holiday), we will, as usual, be having a normal school day for everyone.  It is also a day when we invite prospective parents to come in and see us in action, so it is certainly an exciting day to be in school.

I hope that you all have a restful and enjoyable weekend.

With best wishes,

Mr Edwards