We were delighted to welcome students and staff from the McGehee School in New Orleans, culminating in a wonderful joint concert at St Alkmund’s Church. Music once again proved its power to connect communities and create shared moments of joy and reflection. Earlier in the week, Mrs Sutton delivered a powerful and inspiring Senior School assembly to mark World Autism Acceptance Month, reminding us that this is an opportunity for everyone to come together to raise awareness, promote acceptance and help build a society in which autistic people are fully supported and understood. This work builds meaningfully on the ongoing efforts of our own Diversity and Inclusion Group.

In the Junior School, this week’s assembly and accompanying quiz centred on the theme of biology, with a particular focus on plants. Pupils enjoyed testing their knowledge and deepening their understanding of how plants grow and thrive, engaging enthusiastically with the questions and discussions. It was a lively and informative way to spark curiosity about the natural world and encourage scientific thinking.

Our Careers Co-ordinator, Mrs Lingen, also organised a fascinating talk by Dr John Booth from Aston University on neuroscience and brain plasticity. Our older students were captivated by his insightful and thought‑provoking lecture, and we are very hopeful that Dr Booth will return in the future to share his expertise with an even wider audience of students and parents.

Finally, excitement is building as the cast and production team of Legally Blonde enter the final weeks of rehearsals. It promises to be a fantastic production, so if you have not yet secured your tickets, I would strongly recommend doing so soon to avoid disappointment.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Darren Payne, Head
Kate Millichamp, Head of Juniors and Whole School Deputy Head