We are six days on from the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II but we are still feeling its enormous impact, individually and collectively.
What it has impressed upon me – though I do focus on it – is family.
When we talk about families here it is around a family of communities. We work together for the good of everybody, respecting each other.
We talk about respect all the time. It is one of our five core values.
We have witnessed this week an outpouring of respect.
It is unlikely we will see the likes of the Queen again. She was a woman who led her people by example. For her, it was not about money and privilege, it was about family and duty.
So many stories have been told this week to illustrate the point.
Her death has affected people in all sorts of ways. The biggest impact, of course, is on her family and friends. We send them our deepest condolences.
But it has also affected people who have never met her.
They have been positively impacted by her rein and how she has gone about things.
Role models are important to everybody, and the Queen was a perfect role model.
She has appeared to inspire our children as many have returned after the summer break as brilliant role models.
They are refreshed, revitalised, and refocused.
When I ask why their answers have included they want to be successful, they want to be right and they want to make people proud.
We are educating within the Church of England’s Vision for Education.
Over the next two weeks, the children will have wonderful opportunities to build on their terrific start to the term and apply for a whole range of leadership positions they will fill for the next 12 months.
Tutors have been making them aware of the roles. I would encourage as many as possible to go for it and take advantage of the opportunities available.
It is part of what we offer and a reason why parents with Year 6 children should attend our Open Evening on Thursday, 29th September between 4pm and 6.30pm.
It is a chance for those children and their families to discover all aspects of the curriculum, speak to the senior leadership team and any member of staff.
If you know parents who would benefit from the evening, please share the details, and remind them we have been over-subscribed in Year 7 in recent years.
A quick house-keeping matter. Could parents please avoid the Academy car park when picking up / dropping off unless there is a medical reason to use it.
Instead, it would be great if you could meet children outside the gate to stop the car park getting congested. Thank you.
Finally, a reminder the Academy will be closed on Monday, a national Bank Holiday on the day of Her Majesty’s funeral.
God save the King.
