The week after our assessments (starting Monday 23 May) the school will be taking part in our first ever Pupil Problem Solving Week. During this period all of the boys from Reception through to Year 6 will be carrying out investigations during their lessons, considering how to successfully complete academic exploratory challenges, and discover processes behind managing projects as an individual and in small groups. The thinking behind this new innovation is a response to the more applied nature of general curriculums and the need for our boys to be able to work both independently and with greater resilience. While we have put this emphasis firmly into our own work over the past two years, I also feel that we should have an annual block of time where the boys can really immerse themselves in this type of work. The staff have spent the past few months preparing some exciting tasks, and I am really looking forward to watching how the boys adapt to new situations. Individual Music/Drama lessons will continue in the week, and 1:1 support lessons will actually take place with the pupil in their investigation, giving our LDD staff a useful insight in how information is being processed and applied by the individual. It is going to be a fun week!

My four stars of this week have been Nicholas Rennison, Toby Carter, Max Babcock and George Watson as can be seen in the photo gallery. Nicholas scored the most amazing goal during a tight water polo match in the week that left Mrs Whiteley and Mr Denton speechless, and wondering if we should start to play this sport against other schools! Toby has produced some wonderful work for Mrs Holder in Year 1, and George and Max can be seen holding their artwork - two pieces that Mr Goddard has described as ‘exceptional’. High praise indeed. Well done to all of these boys.

As our pupils in Year 1-6 are involved in assessments next week, please feel free to allow them to bring in water bottles. If the weather stays hot, staying hydrated is of maximum importance and can have an affect on performance. My staff will ensure that they can sip frequently from their drinks. I am genuinely very interested to see how the boys tackle their new style assessments. This is also the first time we have ever outsourced our marking to a separate assessment body, as I wanted to ensure that there is complete and independent moderation in the results we achieve. Let’s see how they go!

Well, please be patient if you are reading my blogs next week…….I hope they will provide you with an even greater insight into our school community! If you are attending our Summer Ball on Saturday, I wish you all a super time. The marquee is currently up on one of our sports field and looks very impressive indeed! Have a lovely weekend.