This week has seen a fantastic celebration of our strengths as a school and has given us all an opportunity to acknowledge the impact of that work. We hosted our first QAR visit, with six external visitors spending three days in all areas of the school looking at what we offer, how we work as a school and the impact it has on what our learners are able to achieve, academically and personally.

Every time we welcome visitors to the school they comment, without fail, on the exemplary behaviour and attitudes of our students, the ambition of everyone who works here to ensure the best for our students, and the brilliant impact this has on the progress our young people make. This visit was no different. I look forward to receiving the report from the visit which I will share with you, and I take this opportunity to thank staff and students across the school for their engagement in the visit this week, and for the work that goes in day-in-and-day-out to achieve the vision of our school.

Another example of that exemplary behaviour was evident today as we collectively observed Remembrance Day. Over two thousand students and staff stood respectfully and silently as Mr Mitchell played the Last Post and we observed a two minute silence at 11am, thinking particularly of those who lost their lives in world wars to secure our freedom, as well as those innocent victims of conflicts around the world today. My thanks to Mr Fells, Mr Mitchell and Ms Stafford for co-ordinating a leading this moving tribute.

Wishing you all a restful weekend.

Mrs Cross

Read the full newsletter here: