This week, the senior school has been dominated by talk of this afternoon’s Staff Vs Year Eleven football match. The hype has been high as both managers and teams have been interviewed and offered predications for how the match will play out.
Thank you to parents for your support this week around reports of the ‘School Wars’ TikTok trend; we endeavour to ensure pupils are well educated in online safety and etiquette, taking a multi-pronged approached through PSHE lessons, form time activities and assemblies. Nottingham Police and the Nottingham City Council Safeguarding team are taking the trend seriously and I am aware that there was an increased Police presence in the city centre yesterday. I remain in contact with our local PCSOs and, so far, they have nothing to report in connection with this trend. All services and schools continue to work together to protect the young people in our city and in our care; we are hopeful this will not progress beyond online communications but continue to take it seriously.
Yesterday at lunchtime, I had a host of characters walk past my office, literal characters as it was World Book Day! The Prep school pupils had a great day dressing up as beloved characters and it was a fun way for them to draw a week of reading-based activities to a close. Earlier in the week they had enjoyed time at Waterstones, and Year Six pupils hosted a ‘Dens of Adventure’ session for our EYFS pupils, creating the cosiest environment for them to enjoy a story in.
In terms of my own reading challenge this year, I have managed to read every day of 2026 so far. Setting a target like this has kept me on track and might be useful for helping some reluctant readers. Note, I have not said how much I read – sometimes it’s only 4 or 5 lines! – or what – sometimes it’s a novel, and at others, a newspaper article. The main point is, I have read something each day, making it manageable instead of setting a mountain to climb and being instantly disappointed.
Last but by no means least, today we say goodbye and thank you to Sam (and Dottie). On behalf of the school and trustees I would like to thank her for all she has done in support of the school, pupils, parents and staff in her role as receptionist and beyond.
We wish her the very best in her new career and are excited for her new beginnings.
Ever Onward and Upward
Ms Purdy