Headmaster’s Notes

I had the pleasure of meeting with our hugely supportive Prince’s Mead Association on Monday evening and the opportunity to reflect on the many successful fundraising events, including Bonfire Night, the Christmas falconry treat, plus many other exciting events and activities. We also looked ahead to all that is being organised for the school over the coming months. The parents on this committee do the most superb job in drawing our community together and raising significant funds for worthy causes including more locally the ‘Young Carers’  who are improving the lives of children and young people in Winchester. We are always looking for new members of the committee from across the school and your contributions to the School community – big or small – would be hugely valued. I remain very grateful to Emma Bowyer and her team for their amazing support.

The school grounds have looked wonderfully crisp over the past week with lower temperatures prevailing. It has been a joy to witness the children wrapped up in their woollies enjoying the opportunity to still be outside.

Examinations have been very much on the agenda for Year 6, with a number of our senior scholarship candidates also under healthy scrutiny. I look forward to updating you on the success of our candidates in due course. Whilst these examinations are a culminating point for Year 6, Mr Thomas (our Head of Mathematics) led a Maths evening workshop with Mr Macdonald for parents of pupils in Years 4 and 5 this week. Thank you to all those parents who braved the icy roads to listen to some sound advice on how we can support pupils in this hugely important area.

On a staffing front, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Leela Bennett as our new Marketing and Communications Manager from next week. As you can imagine, the post attracted some strong applicants. Mrs Bennett has an impressive marketing background spending many years in the private sector managing marketing and events.  Mrs Bennett has since had her own marketing communications and photography business which has included working closely with schools as well as other industries. She is looking forward to championing the amazing stories that take place every day in our very special community and she can’t wait to be part of this.

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.