Well obviously I had never retired, and Justin Spanswick, Executive Headteacher, is already finding a lot of my old in-tray rapidly filling his. In stepping back directly to lead the Senior Boys, I do so with a real passion and understanding for educating adolescent males, and I am genuinely excited by the ‘tweaks’ I can make to further extend, challenge and support both the boys and their teachers in their work here in Ray Mill Road East.

Mr Tony Blakeley has rejoined Claires Court Senior Boys as a Maths teacher for two weeks, whilst Mrs Myers is away, and we are grateful that our GCSE boys are in such capable hands.  We also welcome into our school community our new Outdoor education and Sailing Instructor, Mrs Penny Gillett, and Mr Terry Davidson to the caretaking team.

At Thursday Assembly (slide show visible here http://schl.cc/3J ), Mrs Olivier (Head of Drama) presented Joe Freeman and Theo Josh (both B10) with some remarkable pewter lapel badges for their work in leading the Year 9 dance club that meets on Tuesday lunchtimes, and whose group will be performing at the Dance show held later this term. Additional highlights next week include the House Tug of War and Berkshire Cross Country championships.

My assembly lead reminded the school about the need to have ‘Good Noticing’ as a key skill to deploy. Mrs Adams at Reception has her own ‘letter box’ into which pupils are able to ‘recognise’ good work or acts of kindness by their peers; please mums and dads, encourage the boys to participate!

And finally, with the cold weather arriving, the Library is opening every lunchtime with some additional board & card games to provide some cognitive excitement in the ‘warm’.