Welcome
back to the start of the new summer term – a term traditionally when courses
culminate in the taking of public exams, cricket, rounders and athletics form
the major sports and the sun is supposed to shine – and unfortunately it isn’t.
It’s good to be back at school and to get back into the swing of things after
the Easter holidays and although the school is now in summer mode with regards
uniform, the weather certainly doesn’t reflect that and it is forecast to get
slightly colder. Please see below the school’s expectations with regards the
summer dress code.
This
weekend, thousands are donning their running shoes to take part in the London
Marathon. Its Charity of the Year, Heads Together, aims to end the stigma
around mental health and enable young people to talk freely about their issues
and concerns. In school this week, we once again welcomed the Samaritans, who
have been coming to talk to the whole school about ways in which our students
can strengthen their emotional and mental wellbeing (this week they addressed
Y10). They have also spent time with our
Year 11s, providing them with tips and advice on dealing with examination and
revision stress. Leaflets following those sessions are available in The
Sanctuary or from Mrs Nurse.
Getting
active is of course one very good way to improve mental health and I look
forward to welcoming as many as possible to our own running event, the 5km Race
for Life, at the Elm Field next Friday. Meanwhile, our huge
congratulations also go to the Year 8 Netball team who became County Champions
after a gruelling final at Millfield yesterday – well done girls!
Staying
on TRaK (Tolerance, Respect & Kindness) continues to be our drive this term
with preparation for public examinations fully underway (the KS3 Summer exams
take place early next month), and it is important that our students remain
fully engaged and focussed. The pace and intensity has been relentless since we
got back and I have been impressed with students’ work ethic, independence of
thought and positive attitude in and around school, including the boarding
houses, and I commend them for their sterling efforts.
With the
PM calling a General Election on the 8th of June, which has caught
many by surprise, the question of education funding still remains a hot topic
of debate and I hope that the new Government, whatever colour it may be, puts
education at the heart of its manifesto and will address this crucial area so
that the futures of our children are protected and that schools up and down the
country are not forced to take decisions that will ultimately harm the nature
and ethos of what we are trying to do – provide our students with an all-round,
holistic education that will give them the necessary skills to prepare them for
the future.
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