Headmaster’s Notes: A Happy New Year!

A very happy New Year to you and I do hope you enjoyed a most relaxing Christmas with your families. We very much look forward to welcoming children back on Tuesday and hearing of their holiday adventures. We also look forward to welcoming our many new families, for what will be a very exciting and happy 2020. Along with new members of staff, I hope that they will all soon feel very much part of the school community.

It has been a busy time at Prince’s Mead over the Christmas period, where a number of changes and improvements have gone on throughout the school courtesy of our Estates Team. Our primary attention elsewhere has, of course, been focused on the significant renovations to the Coach House in advance of the Pre-Prep taking up their new residence at half-term. With the inclement weather experienced over the break, our landscaping contractors have needed to put on hold their work outside the Coach House but we are assured that the small mountain of top soil will soon disappear when the ground is drier.

In staff news, we welcome two additional members of staff this term. Mrs Naomi Small has been appointed as a Teacher of Maths and English to Year 6 and also Sport. With an MA in English Literature, Mrs Small has 15 years teaching experience; most recently at King’s School. She is a natural educationalist, with family roots in Stroud School in Romsey. In addition to her academic experience, she can’t wait to get involved in the extra-curricular life of the school. Mrs Small is a keen runner, often participating in half marathons and multi-discipline running events, plays a large range of sports and can’t wait to roll up her sleeves with Prince’s Mead’s growing outward-bound adventures. She also comes with considerable pastoral experience having been a form tutor and boarding house assistant for many years.

Further down the School, Miss Madeleine Jordan has been appointed as our Nursery Leader. A graduate of the University of Winchester, she comes with substantial experience in her field; most recently having been the Nursery Manager of Hartley House Nursery in Winchester. She has a particular love of Forest School and, in between being outdoors in all weather, she is a passionate advocate of the performing arts, having been part of a local performance group for many years. She looks forward to finalising our exciting planning for the launch of our Prince’s Mead Nursery in Easter. Her arrival next term allows her the opportunity to immerse herself fully in the Early Years before that time. In addition, we welcome back Mrs Laura Thomas who returns to her role as Head of Art as she returns from maternity leave and I know she can’t wait to get stuck in to new and exciting projects in the Art Room.

Parking can be challenging on the first day back of term so may I suggest that you plan to arrive slightly earlier than usual as children can often have a great deal to bring in to school on the first day of term. The school will be open all day on Monday should you wish to drop any bags off in your child’s Form Room to beat the rush on Tuesday morning. Staff will be present in school on Monday but please forgive us if it is a fleeting greeting as colleagues are involved in a busy day of staff training at this time!

Please do take a moment to look through our school calendar, which not only lists events ahead, but also provides a staff directory, details of clubs and activities, and other vital information about school life.

I very much look forward to welcoming you back on Tuesday for what will be a very positive term indeed.

Mr Peter Thacker