24 May 2024
Dear Parents
The first half of the Summer Term seems to have passed at lightning speed. Activity across school has been at an all-time high, with residentials, rehearsals and examinations ongoing against the backdrop of usual curriculum lessons. It is always a privilege to witness all these activities and also to gain a glimpse of a day in the life of your children, from impromptu LAMDA poetry recitals in the school office from two of our Year 2 pupils yesterday, to being in receipt of an incredible piece of roller-coaster cake from a member of Miss Hudson’s form, to also learning about the significant achievements of Senior School pupil Jacob over last weekend coming first out of 274 in the Blenheim 1 mile charity run. All this feeds into the richness of daily life at Cranford and we are excited to see what the next half-term brings!
Y4 Residential
I have enjoyed a wonderful two days with Year 4 on their residential to New Barn in Dorset. A stunningly blue cloudless sky met the children as they arrived at Lulworth Cove for a picnic lunch and an ice-cream. Skimming stones, finding sea glass and even seal spotting provided great fun for everyone before we travelled to a warm welcome at New Barn. The children first had a site tour, meeting Penny the pig and the goats followed by a perfect tea before making some pottery. Other highlights included den building in the hazel trees, a Saxon experience and the legendary Bugfest followed by a chance to dress-up and let off some steam with the disco! The Year Four teaching team were incredibly proud of the children and their excellent behaviour! We hope you enjoy seeing a snippet of what they got up to here.
Y7-9 Residential
What a wonderful way to start the week for our Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils, who headed off to sunny Osmington Bay in Dorset for their residential. Our pupils were exceptional from the start, diving into the multitude of activities with fervour and in some cases, more than a hint of competitiveness! All the pupils and staff were delighted with the facilities, location and activities; the cooked breakfast I hear was a favourite, closely followed by roasting marshmallows round the campfire. With more than one PE teacher on the trip, it was bound to get heated, but I’m not sure that Mr Levy and Mrs Sear have yet recovered from an annihilating defeat in archery tag! Meanwhile, Dr Maher is relieved to have his feet on firm ground following his time on the big swing – we believe his screams were heard across the channel! The Dragon boating activity proved immensely popular, particularly given the brilliant sunshine. It was a highly memorable trip for staff and pupils alike and we really enjoyed seeing the collaboration between all our pupils and year groups; a real testament to the school values.
Reception Tea Party
The Reception class have found it hard to contain their excitement this week but finally, the day of the Reception Tea party arrived! The marquee in Willow Court looked glorious, the tables adorned with the wonderful flower arrangements crafted by our young Reception superstars. They have worked exceptionally hard over the week, helping to prepare a feast fit for royalty, and were excited to welcome their parents to this grand event. As families enjoyed chatting, enjoying sandwiches, cheese straws and cake, the Reception pupils then performed a series of songs beautifully, enjoying their moment in the limelight! Thank you so much to all our parents who joined us for this grand occasion! Please see photos from the event here.
With best wishes
Dr James Raymond
Head