I hope you are all well.
Firstly, a huge well done to Year 8, who have now completed their final set of exams at Sevenoaks Prep. Their hard work has paid off and they can now fully enjoy the post-exam programme through to the end of term – a well-earned reward. Congratulations also to Year 7: exam week is behind you!
We have enjoyed a trio of wonderful school events recently – Grandparents and Loved Ones Day, Maypole and Golf Day. Each brought the community together in the best possible way (and, reassuringly, without any major mishaps involving maypoles or golf swings). A heartfelt thank you to the staff who made these events happen and to all of you who joined us.
I would also like to thank the staff who ran our half-term holiday clubs – no small feat given the great British weather. I am pleased to report the rain showed admirable restraint and waited until this week to make its grand return.
Half-term, as ever, seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. In assembly on Monday, I shared with the pupils that I managed something of a “lap” of England and Scotland while collecting my daughters from university. The journey included several well-timed stops – ostensibly to recharge the car, though I suspect I may have needed the recharging just as much. One particular highlight was a rather remarkable hotel in Alnwick, where the dining room is housed in the original interior of Olympic, the sister ship of Titanic. Breakfast felt less like a meal and more like a slightly surreal historical experience – thankfully without any lingering concerns about icebergs. I also managed a long-awaited visit to Lindisfarne (a childhood ambition finally realised) and took great pleasure in the distinctive blend of accents in Berwick-upon-Tweed – proof, if ever it were needed, of the richness of our regional character. More than anything, the journey was a reminder of just how varied and beautiful our countryside is – something we are fortunate to enjoy every day, particularly here in Kent.
Best wishes
Luke Harrison
Dear Parents,
As we begin the second half of the summer term, I hope that all of our families enjoyed a wonderful half term break. The glorious sunshine certainly made it feel as though summer had arrived in full force, although this week’s weather seems to have had other ideas and has given us a rather autumnal welcome back!
Before looking ahead, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what was a truly special final day before half term. Our Grandparents and Loved Ones Morning was a tremendous success and it was heartwarming to welcome so many family members and special friends into school. Seeing generations come together to share in the children’s learning, achievements and school experience was incredibly special. We hope that everyone who attended enjoyed the morning as much as our children and staff did.
The celebrations continued with the Year 1 and Year 2 Music Assemblies. It was a joy to see the children’s confidence and musical talents shining through as they performed for their families. We were treated to performances from budding pianists, violinists and recorder players, all of whom should be immensely proud of themselves. My sincere thanks go to Mrs Billingham, Mrs Dwinell and Mrs Granger for the dedication, encouragement and expertise they bring to nurturing our young musicians.
The afternoon’s Maypole celebrations were a fitting finale to the half term. I was enormously proud of every child who took part. Learning the dances, mastering intricate patterns and performing with such confidence, precision and enthusiasm in front of a large audience is no small achievement. The children demonstrated remarkable perseverance, teamwork and resilience throughout their preparations, and their performances reflected the hard work and commitment they had shown over many weeks. They truly were a credit to themselves and to our school.
We now look forward to an exciting and purposeful second half of the summer term. Across the Pre-Prep, the children will be immersed in rich and inspiring learning experiences designed to spark curiosity, deepen understanding and encourage them to think creatively and critically. Alongside this, preparations are already underway for our end-of-year Summer Shows, which provide wonderful opportunities for the children to develop confidence, collaboration and performance skills while creating lasting memories together.
As always, thank you for your continued support. We look forward to sharing another busy, successful and memorable half term with you all.
Best wishes
Helen Cook