Below my words on the bulletin are a list of a few changes and reminders for the school year. Please take time to read them and do not hesitate to contact your son’s form tutor should you have any questions.

Yesterday we welcomed our new Reception class to school - oh my, they are lovely! I went to visit them at certain times in the day, and by 3.30pm there were a few nearly dropping off to sleep! Their first day in school was a successful one, and we look forward to watching them develop and grow throughout their time with us.

We have also welcomed three new teachers to our school. Miss Sian Barrow has joined the EYFS as a class teacher, Miss Alexandra Flynn has joined Year 4 as a class and Science teacher, and Mr Owain Griffiths who has joined us after his A-levels at CC Sixth Form, is this year’s Gap student, working primarily within the Sports Department. They have already settled into the CC family very well and are relishing the challenges ahead.

Other news - Debbie Parker, our wonderful school administrator, is still not with us as she is going through a number of treatments for cancer, which was diagnosed in May. She is in very good spirits and has been visiting us at school to keep all the staff updated on her progress. We wish her well and I will continue to inform you of her recovery. My former Deputy Head, Susan Payne, continues to battle with her lymphoma but is equally positive and manages to find the time to organise me still! I hope you will see her in school soon.

As we go through the year you will also get to know the charity groups that the school support, with The Link Foundation and Rosie’s Rainbow our main beneficiaries . In fact, we will be attempting a new focus with the Link Foundation this Christmas….more on this to follow. Our own Mrs Christine Ward’s daughter, Amy who is a former pupil of the school, is currently doing the London Marathon Walk for The Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice - if anyone would like to support her, please contact the school office.

Our first few weeks in school can be rather hectic, so please feel free to keep in contact with us through your son’s homework diary (Reading records for Reception and Year 1) and through the school office.

I have changed our management structure slightly this year to expand my Senior Leadership Team. While Judy Nott remains my Deputy Head and 2nd in charge, Eric Leuzinger is now also Deputy Head and will have responsibility for site operations and activities. Mrs Samantha Henry is now my Assistant Head with not only responsibility for Maths, but the whole curriculum. Mrs Linda Stay is now Assistant Head with responsibility for pastoral care, and Mr Daniel Gillespie is Assistant Head with responsibility for Special Educational Needs. I am delighted with my senior team, and we are already preparing for the challenges ahead!

My final thoughts this week go to Friday 15 September when we are holding our first social event of the school year - the Sports Tour and Bushcraft fundraiser. This runs from 4.30pm on our main field, and is a lovely family event with a BBQ, lots of games, and a bar. A super way to start the year, please join us if you can. Information on this event can be found on this bulletin.

Well, despite the rain, it has been a brilliant start to the new academic year and I look forward to seeing you all at one of our upcoming events very soon.

Justin Spanswick