24 January 2025 | Cranford School

Dear Parents

We are delighted to be able to share with you exciting sporting headlines. Cranford teams have quite simply been smashing it! Our U14 boys have had an epic journey in the ESFA Cup, making it to the final 16 in the country. This is a hugely impressive achievement and their determination and teamwork against some stiff competition is to be applauded.

This week, we also celebrate our U11 Girls’ Hockey, who are officially county champions, beating some seriously fierce competition from other local schools including The Dragon, SHSK and Oxford High. The team were unbeatable, displaying control, composure and camaraderie, earning them a well-deserved place at the top of the county table and a place in regionals. We look forward to updating you on their future progress.

Meanwhile, our U16 Girls’ Hockey team are preparing themselves for the National finals the week after next, which take place at the Nottingham Hockey Centre. We know that the whole school will be cheering them on and wish them the best of luck as they take part in such a significant event.

We are thrilled to be recognised for these achievements and celebrate all our pupils who take part in fixtures at all levels. Well done to you all.

Year 3 Assembly
Year 3 were exceptional on Thursday morning, as they hosted Junior Assembly on the theme of kindness. They delivered their lines with great enthusiasm, making sure to read loudly and clearly. Kindness and generosity of spirit is something that we emphasise through all ages and year groups in school and our wonderful Year 3 cohort hit home just how important this is in uniting our school community. At the end of the assembly, Year 3 delivered a rather wonderful poem they had written for the occasion, that we thought would be nice to share:

At Cranford School, where friendships grow,
Kindness is the seed we sow.
In classrooms bright and playgrounds wide,
We share our hearts and stand with pride.

A helping hand, a cheerful smile,
Can turn a tough day into worthwhile.
We lift each other, lend our ear,
And spread warm words for all to hear.

When someone stumbles, we don’t ignore,
We’re there to help them rise once more.
Through challenges, we stand as one,
Together stronger, till the task is done.

Kindness shines in all we do,
In every word, both kind and true.
It’s not just actions, big or small,
It’s showing care for one and all.

At Cranford School, we proudly say,
Kindness lights our every day.
With happy hearts and spirits free,
We build a better world to see.

Let this message forever stay,
Kindness leads the Cranford way!

Year 11 and 13 Parents’ Evening and RSE Coffee Morning
Thank you to all the parents who attended Thursday’s Parents’ Evening. It was wonderful to see so many of you and discuss your son or daughter’s progress in the mock examinations. These provide a good start ahead of the forthcoming Summer examinations and we are looking forward to working with our pupils to help them achieve their best in their GCSEs and A levels. Thank you also to those parents who joined us on Wednesday morning for the RSE Coffee Morning. We hope you found this useful and informative.

Please remember to have a quick look at this week in pictures!

With best wishes

Dr James Raymond
Head