Be More Prep!
After a couple of quieter weeks, things have really ramped up now that the End of Year Exams are complete.
Last Saturday we had the truly fantastic Bright Sparks STEM Fair. I will not attempt to capture everything here, but it was a wonderful event, and I hope many of you were able to attend. We have also been busy with athletics: our Year 8 team performing particularly well at the County finals, securing nine medals, including five golds. On Tuesday we enjoyed a super day of academic enrichment with some of our Year 9 pupils, alongside groups from Solihull and King’s High Schools. And the same evening our pipe organ celebrated its 100th birthday, complete with a cake and candles!
As we approach the end of term, it is naturally a time for reflection. On Wednesday, our Year 11 students enjoyed their prom, which provided a memorable and fitting conclusion to their year. Even our youngest pupils in Year 6 Prep have been reflecting on their journey. I am delighted that Miss Mould, who leads the Prep, has contributed to this week’s update, and the Prep pupils have also created a video for you. Enjoy!
Choosing a school can be daunting and sometimes a leap of faith, coming into the Prep is both things. Parents are choosing to move their child from a settled primary school at a time that isn’t a natural transition point. As a school we take this responsibility very seriously and, in many ways, it is the start of a journey that reflects a big part of the Prep ethos, which is to build resilience, alongside promoting kindness and developing independence in thought and deed.
Starting afresh can be scary, and it is likely that it puts the child outside of their comfort zone, but very quickly they realise that it’s going to be ok and it will turn out alright. Knowing that life can be made up of a series of ‘bumps in the road’, we continue to provide opportunities for children to challenge themselves, confident that this will teach them that we don’t always get it right or succeed every time. We do this inside the classroom, but this learning continues outside of the school building too. This shows them that the world is a place full of wonder, but also that they can be empowered and need not be afraid of the new and unknown.
We think there is a lesson in here for everyone: how long is it since you tried something new, didn’t worry about failing, had a go at something, felt free of burden and the trappings of the world, and simply laughed because you got it wrong?
‘Be more Prep’ (to view, click here) is the goal for this weekend: try to recapture the joy of your childhood, put down your phone and have a go at something new or something that you haven’t done for 30 years! You never know, it might be exhilarating!
I couldn’t agree more. Have a great weekend,
Magnus Anderson
Headmaster