It has been a phenomenally busy week but great fun too. I enjoyed getting to see the emerging personalities at the Year 7 camp out on Friday night, as the new Year 7 joined in so that they were almost indistinguishable as new, such was the welcome that they were shown. Hats off to Fraser Wiseman who masterminded the logistics and to all the team of teachers who came to make it fun.
Thank you to the many parents who have attended the coffee mornings in Pre-Prep and the welcome evenings in Prep this week. We have a few more such events next week and in the week after that. Do look out for what’s in the calendar.
Settling into a new environment can take longer than just a few days, however, and I am mindful that if a child has moved schools, or perhaps countries and house, that this can be almost overwhelming and progress towards confidence will take longer. There might be tears, there might be anxiety and quite possibly some large differences in the content covered or novelties in the way things are done. We are here to help and strong routines and confident parents will help us and your child.
From a well-being perspective, it is of course okay to find things daunting when they are different and all of our new members of staff are expending more emotional energy understanding new routines and getting on top of new expectations.
During this academic year, we expect that ISI, the Independent Schools Inspectorate will visit us with very short notice to check that we are a compliant school. Compliance, as I am sure you are aware, is enshrined in a great deal of law but also best practice and inspectors when they come will want your views on what you see and what your experience is.
As the school has very strong routines, good governance and well-established staff expectations, we expect to meet all the standards in this inspection. But you can help us by letting us know if there’s anything that you see, hear or experience that is not what you would expect.
I hope very much that you have a restful and enjoyable weekend. I’m looking forward to being a tiny speck on your TV screens as part of the Prom in the Park for the last night of the Proms so if you’re watching I’ll give you a wave!
Jill Aisher