17 October 2025

Dear Parents

The first half term of the school year seems to have flown by at an incredible rate and the last week has been no different – from the 5 trip to the Story Museum through to the Y6 visit to the Natural History Museum, an array of sports fixtures, the Poetry Slam, the highly competitive Inter-House Humanities quiz and so much more besides. I never cease to be impressed by the enthusiasm, curiosity and sense of fun displayed by Cranford pupils. 

This morning in Senior Assembly we reflected on the school values and the powerful role pupil voice has made in shaping changes around the school this term – from our new table tennis and table-football equipment and the development of new snacks provision at break and lunch, to the introduction of a new school value – resilience - and the addition of a new Senior School common room. Our school councils offer a vibrant and strong representation of pupil voice! We have also enjoyed the launch our Teaching and Learning Councils this term and interesting discussions about what great learning looks like at Cranford! 

We have been delighted to welcome so many families into school over the course of the last week, from our Pre-School and Reception Coffee Morning to our Study Skills events and DEIB coffee morning. Many thanks to the well over 100 parents who have attended these events! 

Black History Month
Over the past two weeks, Cranford has marked Black History Month with a vibrant celebration of stories, music, and creativity under this year’s theme: “Standing Firm in Power and Pride.”

Students across the school have taken part in assemblies exploring how voices are used to tell stories, how some have been amplified through history while others have been silenced, and how Black History Month offers a vital space for those voices to be heard. 

Today, we were incredibly fortunate to welcome two very special visitors to school — Mr and Mrs Owusu—who joined us to mark the end of Black History Month with inspiring storytelling and cultural insights. Year 7 were captivated by the tale of Nana Yaa Asantewaa I, the fearless Ashanti queen mother who led her people in resistance against British colonial rule, and learned about the significance of the Golden Stool, a powerful symbol of unity and identity in Ghana. Meanwhile, KS2 pupils learned about everyday life in Ghana and were treated to traditional stories, including the brave little mouse and the clever trickster Kwaku Ananse, whose adventures have been passed down through generations.

A huge thank you to Mr and Mrs Owusu for sharing their time, wisdom, and heritage with us — it was a wonderful way to conclude our Black History Month celebrations.

Junior Discovery Day – Saturday 8 November

This year, we are excited to announce our Junior Discovery Day has a circus-theme. As ever, Cranford will be transformed with activities and exciting acts galore! We warmly invite our Junior families to join the fun from 9am on Saturday 8 November. Pre-booking is essential as there are only a limited number of tickets. Please click here to secure your tickets. 

I hope you are all looking forward to a restful and restorative half term and we’ll look forward to seeing everyone back in school in November! 

Please feel free to have a look at this week in photos! 

Best wishes

James Raymond

Head