Given what we have witnessed as a nation this past week or so, it seems highly appropriate to focus on events.
They all take planning, no matter how big or small.
However much you saw and whatever your opinions, nobody could have been disappointed by the level of organisation, planning and sheer splendour of Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral.
It just happens to be my week to address each of the year groups in assemblies over successive days.
I have been saying the Queen’s funeral was one of the first occasions in a while when you can be proud to say you are British.
We have stopped talking about what it is like to be British and what being British means.
The answer was across television screens on Monday, even if you only caught a glimpse.
What an occasion it was. It showed what living in Britain is all about.
It does not matter if you are first, second or third generation British.
As a nation, we are steeped in wonderful, long-lasting traditions. They were perfectly carried out for the watching world to see on Monday, despite it being a sombre occasion.
We teach British values in school and mutual respect is one. It was referenced numerous times throughout the day and is something we highlight frequently.
Academy events are, obviously, on a much smaller scale but I wanted to list key ones this term:
- Harvest Assemblies – w/c 26th September
- Open Evening – Thursday 29th September 4pm to 6.30pm
- Raising Aspiration Day 1 – Wednesday, 5th October
- Year 7 Settling in Evening – Wednesday, 5th October
- Thursday, 13th October – Sports Presentation Evening
- Reward Assemblies – w/c 17th October
- Community Cafe – Thursday, 20th October
- Year 11 Internal Exams 7-18 November
- Interfaith Week – w/c 14th November
- Anti-Bullying week – w/c 14th November
- GCSE certificate collection – Monday, 28th November
- Year 10 Consultation Evening – Thursday, 1st December
- Year 11 Evening of Ingredients – Tuesday, 6th December
- Christmas Service assemblies at St Lawrence Church – w/c 12th December
- Community Cafe – Wednesday, 14th December.
To get to the stage of announcing them, a significant amount of work has already gone in – when they are, who’s involved and how the message is communicated – and I thank staff for their efforts.
Please ensure relevant events are in your diaries. More details will be released closer to the time.
Homework is not an event, though for some students it is!
We have bought into software programmes that make it easier to set, communicate with parents / carers and understand the expectations around homework.
For parents / carers, it is easier for them to see, understand and support their child with it.
It also supports conversations about homework with heads of department and heads of year, for instance. If you have any concerns, please get in touch.
Back to events and it is our largest of the year a week tomorrow (Thursday, 29th) between 4pm and 6.30pm when we host Year 6 pupils and their parents / carers in an Open Evening.
We have the highest-ever number of children on roll (786), 26 more than the start of last year.
I am proud of that and thank people for the confidence, trust and patience shown in us.
We are a popular school serving the immediate community, but we take nothing for granted. If you are aware of a family who should be there next week, please let them know.
For some, they will be stepping into the building for the first time. They will be most welcome and be able to talk to students as well as staff.
It might not be on the same scale as Monday’s event, but for us (and Year 6 and their families) it is no less important.
