Junior Reflections 3 July 2026
Dear parents,
Well, what a week it has been, and yes, I am going to say that was a hot one! Thank you for your support in sending your children in with hats, sun cream and water bottles. They all did remarkably well considering, and I think we are all grateful for the dip in temperatures this weekend and into next.
On Monday I had the pleasure of attending a spectacular performance of The Wind in the Willows by the Lower School (senior school). The two performances were outstanding, and I was so pleased to see so many of my old junior school pupils involved. I do hope that the current Upper Two pupils take the opportunities on offer next year as I know that Mr Brough and Mr Harknett would love to see them all back on the stage.
On Wednesday, I attended two Governor meetings, where we also said a farewell to one of our long-standing members of the governing body. Mrs Helen Clark has been on the board for 15 years and her contributions have been invaluable in helping shape the school and as support for me when she was Chair of the Junior School Committee. It is a privilege to work with our board members who so generously give up their time to support and guide the school.
We had a rather warm Open Morning as well on Wednesday, where, as you would expect, our Upper Two tour guides were amazing. I received this feedback about two of them, which I thought would be lovely to share: “The two pupils were both exceptionally well-spoken, confident, and knowledgeable, and they represented the school wonderfully. Their enthusiasm and maturity were evident throughout the tour, and they answered questions thoughtfully while making us feel welcome.” A wonderful email to receive.
Roman Day also took place on Wednesday morning. I am not sure that our prospective parents expected the Romans to be in town, but it was certainly a pleasant surprise… and the pupils had a lot of fun both in the classroom and outside with our very own Gluteus Maximus, aka Mr Pidwell.
On Monday, you will receive an email indicating your child’s new form group for the next academic year. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, pupils will spend time in their new forms, welcoming the many new pupils who will be joining us. We understand that this change may cause a little worry for some, but as I have reminded the pupils many times: trust the school, it will be okay. In life, it’s so important that we learn to broaden our friendship groups, meet new people, and embrace change with confidence.
As I finish off my newsletter today, I am heading off to Speech Day, to celebrate all that has taken place this year, I can’t believe it’s nearly the end and as always, how much we manage to fit in.
Enjoy the weekend.
