1 March 2024

1 March 2024

Dear Parents

Despite a rather wet week of relentless showers, our pupils have shown unwavering zest for learning and there has been brilliant levels of energy across the whole school.

Launch of Thrive!
On Wednesday morning we had our first meeting of Thrive. This is the new student led committee to explore how we celebrate diversity and promote inclusion. Students from across a range of year groups attended, although there is always space for more and we welcome new faces at any point! We discussed how we celebrate difference and foster a spirit of unity at Cranford. With happiness being one of our core Cranford values, we believe that creating a space for a myriad of voices to shine is essential to building a happy community. The first event on our horizon is International Women's Day on the 8 March, and some of the Thrive members plan to help Mrs Wekesa create and deliver a whole school assembly on this topic. It is early days as a group but we are excited to see where the discussion takes us and how we can ensure that all members of the Cranford community are welcomed, supported and can truly thrive!

GCSE and A Level Music trip
Yesterday, Cranford's A level and GCSE music students travelled to the Sheldonian Theatre to enjoy a wonderful concert given by the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. The programme was varied and included the Overture to the Barber of Seville by Rossini, the Sibelius Violin Concerto and Haydn's final symphony, no. 104 "London". The orchestra played with vibrancy and passion and it was wonderful to hear these fabulous pieces of orchestral repertoire played live. It was also extremely beneficial for our A level students to hear a live performance of Haydn 104 as it is their set work for A level music. The concert was enjoyed by all and our pupils were truly inspired by the virtuosity and dynamism of all the performers. We also enjoyed a pre-concert supper at Pizza Express, which was delicious!

Junior School
Year 1 pupils took centre stage as they captivated us with a stellar performance about their topic - the Solar System! They whisked us away on an exciting journey, exploring the mysteries and wonders of planets and capping off the assembly with a harmonious song about the planets. It was indeed a brilliant assembly, showcasing the creativity and hard work of our Year 1 pupils. Well done Year 1! Meanwhile, Year 3 and 4 are in the final throes of rehearsals ahead of their epic show ‘Mystery at Magpie Manor’! I think we are all in for a wonderful treat with this performance and look forward to seeing many parents there.

Year 7 Parents’ Evening
It is quite extraordinary to think we are already half-way through the the academic year. Our recent Year 7 Parents' Evening was a fantastic opportunity for us to come together as a community, allowing parents to engage with teachers and gain insights into their child's progress. It is always a pleasure to see the strong, supportive connections between our teachers, pupils, and parents and Wednesday evening was no different. We received positive feedback from so many of our Year 7 parents and it is heartwarming to know how useful you found this evening. However, what truly made our day were the comments about how happy and settled your children are here with us. After all, that is our biggest aim - to create a safe, nurturing environment where our students can thrive, not just academically, but emotionally too.

Senior School Positions of Responsibility
On Wednesday, I had the incredible privilege of interviewing our Senior pupils who have put themselves forward for a Position of Responsibility. The positions of responsibility at our school are not merely titles. They are significant roles that morph our students into ambassadors. They reflect the dedication, hard work and contributions our pupils have made at Cranford so far. More importantly, they shape those who are awarded a position into role models for their peers.

The interview panel had an incredibly challenging task; not because of the sheer number of candidates, but because of the extraordinary standard all the pupils brought to the table. We were blown away by our impressive, eloquent pupils, each demonstrating a broad range of talents spanning the curriculum and extending into extracurricular pursuits. We cannot wait to see how these young leaders will pioneer their roles in the next academic year. A heartfelt thanks to our outgoing Heads of School, Alex and Harry and the rest of the team who have held these roles through the course of this academic year. They have not only been dedicated leaders but also sources of inspiration for all pupils and the entire school community. Congratulations to all who have been awarded a role; we are excited for you and look forward to working with you all!

Have a lovely, hopefully sunnier and drier weekend!

With best wishes
Dr James Raymond
Head