Athletics is often regarded as an individual sport but we see much value in taking a team approach. This was hugely evident on Monday when we held the Senior Girls Inter House Athletics. As well as the the three medallists in each event every competitor earns points for their house and to see the determination and sheer grit of volunteer 1500 metre runners, shot putters and relay runners was fantastic. Add to that the enthusiastic support from each house for their team mates and we had a brilliant afternoon’s competition full of striving and endeavour. Many thanks to the parents that came along and your enthusiastic support was hugely appreciated along with Mrs Ayres dedicated medal ceremony work!

More success on the tennis court as our Under 13s took on and vanquished Queen Anne’s School in the semi-final of the Berkshire Cup.  After a tense series of matches we eventually ran out winners 10-8 in a Championship tie break and we now go onto the final against Newlands... and when did Maidenhead suddenly become the hotbed of junior tennis in Berkshire?

Year 10s have been hearing about Higher Education and the alternative routes that are now such an integral part of the pathways now available to young people. The point of discussing this now is to open horizons to them, and to move their thinking out of any tram tracks that they may currently be in. Their work with our motivational speaker, David Hyner, is to energise them from a different perspective.

So have you got your tickets, and have you booked dinner? No? So why would you miss out on what will be an energetic and uplifting drama and music production, along with some fine dining? In reality you shouldn’t and you needn’t - there are still some tickets left for “We Will Rock You”, and for the two course pre-theatre dinner prepared and served by Year 10.

And whilst we know how active our senior girls are we also share the concerns expressed in the Education Policy Institute’s latest report on the reported links between the excessive use of social media and adolescent well being. The report “SOCIAL MEDIA AND CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE”-  shows that the picture is not a simple one, nor likely to be resolved in a simplistic manner. It makes for interesting reading.

Occasionally parents ask - “are you starting to wind down...?” Hah! Is the normal response - the Music and Drama production, Year 9 rowing taster, Berkshire Tennis final and the start of the Summer Reading Challenge gives the lie to that thought.

Have a lovely weekend....