As the sun has shone this week, it has been slightly quieter in school as our Year 10 students have embarked on their Work Experience placements. The range of placements has been incredibly varied and the geographical spread broad, but what has shone through in visits and contact with employers is the maturity, manners and aspiration of our young people. Each placement is different and will therefore require different skills and attributes but what is common is how well they have done and we are very proud of them all.

This afternoon is our Year 13 Celebration Day as we mark the end of their time at Wallingford School with fancy dress, fun and an emotional and occasionally humorous final assembly. As I wrote last week about the revision visit to the Lake District, this has been a brilliant year group and we will miss them. From next week the public exams kick in and we then look forward to their Leavers’ Ball in June to mark the end of the examination period.

Finally, as I have walked across the field at lunchtime in the sun this week with students sat in circles chatting and some very hot games of football going on I have reminded myself – not that I had forgotten – of how lucky we are as adults to work with such great young people at Wallingford School. There are moments when this comes sharply into view – as exemplified by feedback from Work Experience placements and the atmosphere at leavers’ assemblies – but it is also all around us each day and that is never to be underestimated.