On Thursday morning I did a thorough walk through the whole campus with colleagues in the Admissions department to ensure that we are looking at our best ahead of Open Day, which takes place this weekend. It was so encouraging that during that hour going up and down corridors, through classrooms, labs and creative spaces, I could observe so many different activities and learning approaches all underpinned with a positive attitude and supportive atmosphere. As I have commented before in these newsletters, I am constantly impressed with our students, the teaching staff that lead and guide them, and the special physical environment that our support staff care for. The drizzle was not dampening spirits.

I began this week in a (mostly) sunny Newport in South Wales for the annual HMC conference. It was a very good and important opportunity to engage with initiatives and key conversations taking place in the UK independent sector and beyond. It also filled me with confidence about the quality of our provision as well as giving us some intriguing aspects that we might want to consider moving forward. Returning back to our Kentish bubble here on Wednesday was lovely though, and I am certainly feeling at home.

I hope a number of parents take the opportunity to come to the Second Form Tutor Tea this afternoon and the Lambes’ Tutor Breakfast tomorrow. Next week, there are a couple of treats in store with the Kingdon Society Lecture given by Hamish de Bretton-Gordon on Wednesday and also an Informal Concert on Thursday.

As well as a full bag of fixtures against St Lawrence College and Berkhamstead School this weekend (our Juniors played Saint Ronan’s School and Bickley Park School earlier this week), we have the aforementioned Open Day for prospective students and parents on Saturday, and the boarders are off to Thorpe Park on Sunday!

Best wishes,

James Thomas