Headteacher's blog: Celebrating a remarkable year in the Junior School!

Now at the end of the academic year, we look back at what we have achieved, fun that we have had and then to look into the future. Everyone will have their own highlights of the year and I hope they are as many as I have. Here are just a few: 

One of my favourite parts of the week remains a Wednesday morning when I am on duty in the garden, when it is not too cold and wet of course!  I really enjoy the informal conversations and the calm start to the day. From skipping, to hotly contested football, to dance performances; thank you girls. 

Who remembers the energetic Chinese New Year lion dance? He threw fortune cookies everywhere! Remaining on the animal theme, Years 3 and 4 loved having a visit from a PAT therapy dog, and the whole school enjoyed a visit from the Dogs Trust.

There have been robotics challenges, maths challenges, science quizzes, House pancake races and a first for the Juniors: sponge the teacher! Mr Hayward and myself got very wet, but it was great fun! This year has been littered by events and experiences for those who wanted to join in. Let’s not forget the spooky disco, Christmas Bazaar and visit to the cinema run by the Friends’. The Friends' have continued to respond to our pupil voice suggestion box, selling lollies on a Friday which has been an enormous hit. The ice cream van on sports day was a winner too. Indeed, thank you to those parents who have helped with the Friends’, especially those moving on to Year 7, we are very appreciative of your time and energy spent to bring the community together. 

Easter brought our first ski trip since the pandemic and it was a roaring success. Members of the school from Year 4 to Year 6 were an absolute pleasure to take with us. There were many funny moments with a fabulous snowball fight, a quiz by Mrs Cheater and skiing, of course. The beginners made their way up the mountain to tackle a range of challenging slopes, including red runs, and master the chair lifts. The independence of the girls and determination when staying so far from home was impressive.

Remaining on the theme of outdoor education, can you believe that 94% of the school have taken part in outdoor education beyond the school curriculum! There have been sailing, kayaking, caving and climbing trips – the girls have thrown themselves in. Mrs Woodward has been an inspiration!

I was also very proud of the girls that chose to enter the writing competition this term and although we have not been selected into the final 10, it was wonderful to see the creativity in the girls’ writing. Having a regional winner for the Step into the NHS competition, Lucia, was wonderful, as were the Highly Commended recommended entries. 

Sadly it is time to say goodbye to Year 6, what can we say? We have been through a lot together, 2 lockdowns in Year 3 (November and January), remote learning and keyworker school. Throughout, they have been the best fun, kind and thoughtful. They have proven resilient, as have their families. We have enjoyed teaching them immensely and we value how well they challenge and debate issues. Year 6 have led the school in the best possible ways; from looking after Year 3s at breakfast club to hosting visitors at events. The U11A teams have represented the school admirably and we achieved third place in the IAPS hardball cricket tournament in only the second time we have entered it. We have had orienteering success, 48 hour film challenge success and published authors amongst us to mention just a few outstanding achievements. Thank you, Year 6, for being part of our school, and to your parents, who have lived the journey with you, and supported you on the way.

Looking ahead to September, we will of course welcome a brand new Year 3 class, new pupils into Years 4, 5 and 6, and new teachers. Every pupil will be part of a Big Girl/Little Girl Activity Day under the theme ‘Carnival’ – a fun way for the girls to get to know each other. We will welcome new parents in for breakfast, lunch in the Senior School, and we hope you can all make it to our September Social, organised by the Friends’ – a relaxed get together and an opportunity to meet new faces.

We already have sporting, orienteering and outdoor ed trips planned in for the Autumn Term and I will be hosting our second Parent Book club in mid-September with Mrs MacDougall, our Junior School librarian. Having already made excellent use of our new fiction library this year, and the atmospheric sensory room which has been a favourite of the girls, there will be new initiatives for the fiction library space to be the ‘heart’ of our school. It will be open after school on Wednesdays and Fridays for parents and children so you are welcome to come in for a browse.

Until then, have a super summer break, keep safe but enjoy much fun and laughter on the way.