Dear parents,
Children’s Mental Health Week
This week we have been celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week and this week kicked off with an assembly form Dr Wilson on Monday – which concluded a raucous shouting of ‘mental health matters’ by each year group in turn – well done to the younger years who were able to raise the roof on the school hall, reminding us all of the importance of laughter too, and connections with others, in looking after our mental health. Our school nurse, Mrs Lisa Barlass, has run workshops each lunchtime for the pupils to talk about things that are important to them with respect to their mental health and wellbeing, and in my year group assemblies on kindness I have asked pupils to make pledges to do kind acts (it is random acts of kindness week next week) and reminded them of the impact of kindness on positive mental health, both for oneself and for others. Many thanks to Oscar, Rhianna, Kirsty, Jasmine and Serena for their reflections on mental health in the assembly on Monday – and in particular for Oscar’s jokes about elephants in the custard!
Parental Forum – AI
On Wednesday, we had a lively discussion with the parental forum group on artificial intelligence and its possible impact on schools. Mr Bone and Dr Wilson are both extremely knowledgeable in the topic and led us through some simple definitions and illustrations of what AI is and what it can do before progressing to discuss what we should be doing to harness the power of generative AI as a way of making our children more productive, and also as a way of developing their critical evaluation, analysis and thinking skills. It was extremely helpful to see the concerns that some parents have about AI and also to consider where this would really help our children to develop those critical skills in school, but asking the right questions of the output from an AI programme and considering this as a starting point, rather than the finished article. Many thanks to all who attended, and to our presenters for a fascinating session.
‘Next steps’ after school
Last night we welcomed three speakers to the school to share their ideas and intelligence with the Lower Sixth as the pupils started to consider their journey beyond school and what might work well for therm. Many thanks to Beth Spoone from Bath University, to Iwan Hopkins from Cardiff University and to Adrian Ferraro, from STL travel, who inspired the pupils with his guidance on taking a gap year and travelling the world. Our pupils are lucky to have so many choices ahead of them and I hope that they were inspired last night as they start their journey to applications for UCAS or degree apprenticeships, or to travel or the world of work. Many thanks to Mr Luigi Chu, Assistant Head (head of sixth form) and Mrs Melanie Szender, our careers pathway advisor, for their hard work in making the session so successful and many thanks to the parents and pupils for your active engagement. It was great to see so many of you here.
Opportunities for parents – talks at school after half term
On Monday 19 February we have our second annual festival of education – this time focusing on mental health and wellbeing in schools. As part of this, we have a special event for parents, at 4.30pm on that day, presented by Alicia Drummond of Teen Tips, who will be talking to us about helping our young people to be resilient teenagers, in the Music Hall. On the follow day, 20 February, we have another day of professional learning for staff, in which we are focusing on attainment in boys. We have Gary Wilson, an expert in this field, here with us on that day and again we have a parent talk to which you are warmly invited. This will be at 5.30pm in the Andrews Hall. A letter will be circulated to you later today with details of how to book yourself into either of these talks if you are interested. We very much hope that you will join us for these two worthwhile sessions.
As we draw the first half of a busy term to a close, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support of the school, and of your children. I am very grateful.
Tomorrow the ski trip heads off to Austria and I am sure that many of you will be heading off to hit the slopes or seek out some sunshine this holiday. I wish the school trip a safe and happy experience, and thank my colleagues, led by Mr Richard Tear, for giving their time and energy to this experience, and I hope that you all have a lovely break.
Good luck to the Upper Sixth as they get stuck into their revision for their trail exams over the holidays.
Wishing you all a lovely half-term and a happy Chinese New Year to all of our Chinese community. Gong Xi Fa Cai!
