Our Year 13 Student Leadership Team are a great bunch of young people who lead our year group student councils impressively. They have been reflecting on what they want to achieve this year and are determined to leave a legacy. Their aspiration is a lofty one – that the school can be carbon net zero by 2030 – and I like the fact that they are aiming high. They have spoken to students briefly in assemblies to let them know of the aim and are formulating a series of activities over the coming weeks to raise its profile. These include (amongst other things): meeting with our catering manager to discuss the nature of the food offer in school and our use of packaging; reviewing our use of paper in school; exploring further our energy use in school; and leading a walk/cycle to school week for those students and staff who can. Much more to follow on all of this but it is an ambition which we know will engage the school community.

In addition, the Student Leadership Team will be supporting members of Wallingford Town Council in school at break and lunchtime today as they seek views and feedback on the Council’s Wallingford 2030 Vision. Some of this consultation is focused around the environment and sustainability but it also covers views of the arts and culture in the town, community facilities and the nature of the local retail economy. This feels like an important thing for the school to be involved with and we look forward to contributing.

In school this week we have had Maths Challenges, Key Stage 5 Enrichment Lectures on The History of Art and the Rwandan Genocides and a lot of sports fixtures; overseas we have students on a snowy French Exchange in and around Grenoble and a Sixth Form delegation at the Model United Nations Conference in Lyon. Mrs Vowles has also delivered powerful assemblies, full of reflection, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. We also look forward to further planting at the Biodiversity Area in St George’s Road on Saturday 11^th February as it really starts to take shape. Lots going on and a personal highlight of the week for me was visiting the Warhammer Club at lunchtime on Tuesday – it’s great with students from Year 7 to 13 working happily together on something which is simply fun.