Year 7 had their first Parents’ Evening on Monday. Thank you to all of you that gave me feedback on what you had heard and how much you valued the depth of explanation and the individual knowledge of each child. One of the most important elements of successful learning is the relationship between each child and their teacher. From what you told me it is clear that these are both strong and warm and this is laying great foundations for future learning and progression.

Some excellent sport results with our Under 14s qualifying for the County Finals, defeating Bradfield and narrowly losing to Pangbourne to be awarded 3rd place.  The Under 12s netball team had their first run out out of the season at the RBWM Netball Tournament achieving a very creditable 5th place.

Next Term we are focusing for the first couple of weeks on ‘Kindness’. Kindness is a virtue that Claires Court holds very dear and not only is it the ethos of a happy school society but it is one of the best ways to individual well-being too. As Dr O’Grady, an expert in Neuroscience and Education, reports: “Kindness changes the brain by the experience of kindness. Children and adolescents do not learn kindness by only thinking about it and talking about it. Kindness is best learned by feeling it so that they can reproduce it”.

I am looking forward to seeing Year 11 parents on Tuesday 7 November, and a host of prospective parents at the Open Morning.

Over the half term period the first grade card will be posted home and ‘Bon Voyage’ to all those going on school trips abroad and I hope you have a marvellous half term holiday.