It has been a busy week back in school following the half-term break. It is a particular pleasure to walk around the school at break and lunchtime and see the range of clubs and activities our students are participating in. A snapshot this week has included chess club, gardening club, art club, basketball club and the House tutor group football on the astroturf at lunchtime; afterschool acitvities included the Bigg band rehearsal and a raft of practices, rehearsals and fixtures. I also particularly enjoyed the Sixth Form Enrichment Lecture on Tuesday on “Theatre as a Political Weapon” which certainly got the audience thinking. All of these things are part of the life of a vibrant school and it is always wonderful to see our students’ engagement with what is on offer. Equally, our fantastic Year 13 Student Leaders have been leading assemblies this week on the topic of “Net Zero 2030” and – as I have emphasised to the younger students – they are the most wonderful role models.

There are a few updates to highlight at the start of term:

As you may be aware, as things currently stand members of the National Education Union plan to strike on Thursday 2^nd March as part of their dispute with the Government over pay and conditions. I will write with a further update on arrangements in school at the start of next week but I can confirm that they will broadly be the same as with the strike day last month with the one change that Year 8 students will be in school along with those in Years 7, 11, 12 and 13. If further proposed strike days go ahead later in the month then we will look to rotate year groups in school to include Years 9 and 10.

Secondly a reminder that we are making a couple of alterations to the uniform policy from September. It will be a requirement for all skirts to be pleated for all year groups and families will probably want to ensure that any replacements which are needed during the rest of this year are pleated – we have certainly seen a large number of families choosing to do so in recent weeks at the mid-way point of the academic year. We are also discontinuing the practice of Year 11 students wearing black jumpers from next year so there is no need to be considering purchasing a new jumper for current Year 10 students.

Finally, we have our Spring Concert on Thursday 9^th March. As ever, it should be a great evening and I would encourage you to attend if you are able to.