In the final week of tours of the school for prospective families with children in Year 5, I have been talking about how as a school we are always looking to innovate and develop.

Our curriculum keeps moving to reflect the interests and ambitions of our students. We introduced GCSE Photography a couple of years ago and it has been really successful; we are now going to introduce A Level Photography from September. This year we have introduced GCSE Music Technology which is going well with our Year 10 cohort. And in September we will launch Spanish as a third language on offer at Wallingford School in addition to French and German. The introduction of these new subjects have required time, training and resources but the richness of experience they offer for our students is considerable.

House competitions are also always developing and this week has seen our first House Golf Competition. It was a hot afternoon and a lot of fun was had by all. We have to thank parent Chris Benarr for his considerable support for the event and also Hadden Hill Golf Club for hosting our students and staff.

It has been a pleasure as always to host French Exchange partner school colleagues and students this week. As ever, the exchange provides a wonderful opportunity for our young people and the commitment of our staff to making it happen each year is always appreciated.

We have new recruits to the school this week in the Courtyard Garden in the form of a small bevy – their collective term – of quails who now join the rabbits in the splendour of the space. The pleasure that the Garden brings to our school is not be understated and again the hard work of our staff and students in supporting it is something we cherish.

Finally, on a hot and dusty week the public exams finally finish. Very well done to all of our Year 11 and 13 students who have earned a well-deserved break.