5 July 2024
Dear Parents
The final week of the 2023 – 2024 academic year has been immense, and I cannot quite believe the summer holidays are here. All of your children have been simply exceptional, exhibiting energy, a sense of fun and all our school values throughout the week!
Senior Concert at Dorchester Abbey
A team of incredibly talented Senior pupils kick-started the week with an outstanding concert at Dorchester Abbey on Monday evening. The quality of the musicianship and singing across an ambitious programme of music was really quite remarkable. I was incredibly proud of our pupils; it is a privilege to see the progress they have made. Well done to all involved and huge thanks to our inspirational music department colleagues.
Going for Gold!
This week, 7 students from Year 12 spent 5 days out in the beautiful Brecon Beacons for their Gold Duke of Edinburgh. They walked between 75 and 80km including summitting Sugar Loaf, Offa's Dyke and Blorenge. The trip included a total ascent of over 1750m. While the distance walked and navigated over incredibly challenging terrain is impressive, what is more impressive was the feedback they received from their assessor who said, they demonstrated 'the best team-work of any group he has worked with all year.' The students supported one another throughout and despite navigational challenges and tiredness, they never lost their good humour. Congratulations to Eloise who passed her assessed expedition, and well done to the other Year 12s who have completed their training! We look forward to your assessed expedition next summer. The whole team truly embodied Cranford values and made us very proud!
Catching Waves
Year 8’s patience, balance and resilience was put to the test on Tuesday, as they experienced the thrill of surfing at The Wave in Bristol. Eager to crack on, the day began with an on-land lesson, before they jumped into the water to practice their newly acquired skills (some with more luck than others!). There was great hilarity and welcome applause as each pupil immersed themselves in the fun, demonstrating their abilities and channelling their inner surf-dude! We loved watching the cohort cheer on each other, having immense fun in the process as they tried to master a seriously tricky sport. Well done Year 8!
Enrichment
Our pupils have thrown themselves into one of three fabulous Enrichment activities this week, including Sport, Performing Arts and Creative Arts. The astro and tennis courts have been a flurry of activity, as pupils have been put through their paces, enjoying skill-based training and matches in hockey, cricket and tennis. Pupils also enjoyed a power hitting session with specialist cricket coach, Julian Wood, who with a background in baseball, has developed his own patented cricket-specific training programme proven to improve a batsman’s hitting power. A cautionary note for future opposition teams – our pupils have met a power hitting guru!
Our Performing Arts pupils headed into London on Tuesday, for an energetic two-hour workshop with professional actors before watching a spell-binding performance of The Lion King. It was brilliant seeing the awe on our pupils’ faces as the magic of this epic musical unfolded. Creative Arts pupils headed to The Cotswold Wildlife Park on Tuesday, to gain inspiration for their project, which involved creating a brand and product designed to raise money for a conservation or animal charity. Working in small cross section year groups, the pupils produced some incredible products from jewellery, to bags, keyrings and even an ocean plastic collecting turtle. There was such a buzz in the Sixth Form lecture theatre as all the pupils surveyed their competition, scoring each other in different categories. Watch out Lord Sugar, our pupils would give your contestants a run for their money already!
Meanwhile, our youngest pupils in Pre-School, Reception, Year 1 and 2 had their own special Enrichment Days, delving into the wonders of water. They had a talk from the RNLI, did lots of creative activities relating to the theme and put on a spectacular parade around Willow Court dressed as glittering sea creatures, pirates and fish.
End of Term Farewell Assembly
I have just come out of a wonderful Whole School assembly. These are always poignant occasions, particularly where it is the final assembly of the year. Together, we looked back on a term filled with adventure, endeavour and all that our pupils have tackled including tests and examinations, sports days and fixtures, school productions, music concerts, residential trips, move-up day and an ending this week with the incredible programme of Enrichment activities! Celebrating all this, and with some brilliant musical interludes, we also were able to look forward to the promise of a long summer ahead.
Do take a moment to have a look at the photos from this week.
Thank you to all our parents and pupils for making our school the exceptional place it is. We look forward to seeing you back on the 4 September for another epic year!
With best wishes
Dr James Raymond
Headmaster