Message from the Principal

A very warm welcome back to the final term of the academic year! We hope you all enjoyed a restful and refreshing break, and that you're returning with renewed energy and excitement for the weeks ahead.

The summer term is always a special one. It brings opportunities for reflection, celebration, and meaningful moments – both inside and outside the classroom. Whether it’s final projects, performances, sports competitions or community events, we encourage all of our students to embrace everything the term has to offer. Let’s make it a time to be proud of – a chance to finish the year strong, to support one another, and to continue building lasting memories together.

I am incredibly proud of our school – of all that we’ve achieved together, and all that lies ahead. We truly have much to celebrate, and so many opportunities to grow. Our partnership with The Juilliard School continues to enrich our students’ creative journey. This week, we welcomed a Juilliard representative who worked with us to reflect on our dance provision and support our thinking around how we can develop it even further. Next week, we look forward to welcoming a second visitor who will help us review our music programme and approach – ensuring we continue to deliver an exceptional performing arts experience for our students.

Meanwhile, our staff are deeply engaged in professional learning to enhance the experience in every classroom. Teams are working on coaching, metacognition and thinking routines to help our students get even more out of each and every lesson. Others are exploring our digital strategy and how we can ensure the most purposeful use of technology in our learning environments. We also have teams reviewing our wider provision outside of the classroom – looking ahead to how we can further enrich our co-curricular offer next academic year.

It’s a busy and exciting term – one where we remain focused on the here and now, while also thoughtfully preparing for the future and how we can continue to add even more value to our school experience.

A special welcome to the new students and families who have joined our school community this term. It’s been wonderful to see you settling in so quickly – thank you for embracing your first week with such positivity and enthusiasm. We’re thrilled to have you with us.

And of course, to our incredible Year 11 and Year 13 students – we are with you every step of the way as you prepare for your upcoming exams and begin to look ahead to the exciting next chapters in your journey. We’re so proud of your resilience, commitment and maturity. I am confident you will demonstrate your excellence in the weeks ahead. Good luck!

Let’s make this term one full of positive memories, achievements and connections. I look forward to sharing it with all of you.

Alan Cocker

Principal

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