It was therefore instructive to read today that the British Chambers of Commerce survey Developing the Talents of the Next Generation that 57% of employers reported that young people were lacking the basis soft skills such as communication and team work, and that 88% employers believe that young people are unprepared for the world of work. They attribute much of this to lack of work experience.

Whilst I think it true that high quality work experience can have an impact on those factors, it is far more about what is done in schools. Through our Essentials learning programme, the careers programme and days such as Lexmark, we are fully preparing our senior girls for the challenges of work and employment.

GCSE exams have started! But don’t panic, the written exams are still a few weeks away, but PE and Drama have had their practical course work assessed (and have done very well) and Art students have their moment in the sun next Thursday and Friday. However I have reminded Year 11s that there is still time to make a difference and to ensure that they are all using the extra after school and lunchtime sessions that are on offer.

Next week has been christened LAMDA week as girls in  both senior and junior school’s rehearse and then perform their individual pieces. The work that is undertaken via the LAMDA speech and drama awards has many benefits. It builds in verse and prose performance, increases  knowledge of literature and develops communication skills - indeed skills for life!

On Thursday Year 7 and 8 take part in the UK Junior Maths Challenge, the annual opportunity to pit their skills with others all across the country. Fancy having a go - here is a past paper - , and you can find the answers on the same web site.

As per the calendar we have our whole school photo on Friday 29th April. For that day all girls will need to be in winter uniform please.

Great to see the field absolutely full of athletes training on Thursday - hurdles, relay, sprinters, javelin throwers, long jumpers - marvellous. Athletics is such an inclusive sport with so many different disciplines, and manages to combine individual performance with a team ethic.

So a diverse and busy week... and I may be in school in time to see the historians of to Ypres on Friday morning.

Have a lovely weekend.

"…there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women."

-- Kofi Annan