While beautiful surroundings and great systems can be wonderful, it is the people who make a community so special and I will certainly have seen that this week in many spheres.

We have had over 50 of our current Lower Sixth students apply to be School Prefects for next year and Mr Farrell and I have been interviewing them all individually this week, hearing their passion for the School and ideas for the future. It is so assuring to hear their maturity and positivity about the School and we will have some tough decisions to make at the end of term!

At the other end of the spectrum, Mrs Evenden, Mr Radford and I were in London on Tuesday meeting a super group of Old Suttonians who attended Sutton Valence School in the 1950s and 1960s. Hearing their great affection for the School and hilarious stories and memories is always such a pleasure and many still had a spring in their step despite being in their 80s! We really do appreciate their support for the School and are so pleased our relationship can continue.

On the parental front we had a packed House for the Fifth Form Options Presentation and Parents’ evening. Second Form parents, it is your turn next Thursday (16^th).

Tonight we will have over 200 people here at School for the SVS Foundation Quiz Night. It will be a great mix of parents, OS, teaching staff, support staff and friends of the community. I shall say more about it next week once we know how it all goes (and who the winners will be – it will not be me this time as I am working behind the bar!) but in advance I must thank David Gilman (former parent) for masterminding the quiz once more and to Jackie Browning, Sally Bar and Jane Farrell for all their preparatory work.

There is plenty to come in the final two weeks of term – please do check your calendars on the portal and the notes in the newsletter carefully – and we look forward to it all a great deal.