3 July 2026

Dear Parents 

As we reach the end of another remarkable year together, I wanted to begin with a very simple thought that I shared with the pupils in our final assembly today: Life is a special occasion. It is not something we should save for a distant point in the future, when the exams are finished, when the next milestone is reached, or when everything feels perfectly in place. It is happening right now. In every lesson, rehearsal, match, conversation and every moment of friendship, kindness and laughter. Those moments are not simply preparation for life, they are life. This final week of term has been a wonderful reminder of that. 

On Monday, we enjoyed a very special Year 6 Celebration Day as our pupils marked the end of their Junior School journey. It was a day full of smiles, memories and reflection, culminating in a wonderful boat trip along the river before joining parents and families for a celebration at The Coppa Club. It was a truly momentous occasion and a fitting way to recognise everything this year group has achieved and the exciting adventures that await them in the Senior School. My thanks to all the families who joined us and helped make it such a memorable day. 

On Wednesday evening, many of us gathered in the magnificent surroundings of Dorchester Abbey for our Senior Music Concert (please see unlisted video here) and I was genuinely blown away by the quality of what we experienced. The orchestra, choir, chamber choir, ensembles and soloists were simply exceptional. The level of musicianship, confidence and teamwork on display was extraordinary, and everyone involved should feel incredibly proud. However, what stayed with me most was not just how beautifully our pupils performed, but what music represents. The older I get, the more convinced I become that when young people learn music, they are learning so many of the things that truly matter in life. Music teaches trust, listening; it requires courage - the courage to stand up and perform even when you feel nervous. It develops resilience, patience and the determination to improve when nobody else is watching. Music brings together mathematics and physics, language and creativity, discipline and imagination. But at its heart sits something even more important, listening. 

The greatest musicians are not simply those who play the loudest. They are those who listen best. Ultimately, you are only ever as good a musician as you are a human being. The world does not simply need more talented musicians. It needs good people. It just so happens that becoming a musician is a wonderful way of becoming one, because every rehearsal and performance is built upon empathy, generosity, trust and helping others to shine. 

Those are the same qualities that build great schools and we have seen those qualities everywhere this year, in classrooms, on sports fields, on stage, on trips and in countless quiet moments when someone choses kindness, encouragement or friendship. Every one of those moments creates a ripple and ripples become waves that spread kindness and happiness through our school. 

Today, we ended the year together with a fantastic whole-school assembly full of music, laughter and community. We celebrated achievements, enjoyed performances and reflected on the responsibility we all have to make the world around us a little better. We spoke about the future and the extraordinary time our children are growing up in. Artificial intelligence and scientific breakthroughs are creating a world that is changing faster than perhaps at any point in history. The truth is that none of us knows exactly what comes next. But while we cannot always control what changes around us, we can always control the impact we have on others. Our real power is not found in exam results, awards, job titles or achievements. Our real power is in the impact we have on others - we often say in school that we are only as powerful as the people around us feel because of us.  Where we show kindness, kindness spreads, where we choose optimism and generosity, we create those ripples that travel far further than we may ever know. 

At the end of a busy school year, when I look at our pupils, I feel incredibly hopeful and optimistic about the future. They have shown such energy, creativity, courage and kindness throughout this year and I could not be prouder to stand alongside them as one of their teachers.  

We hope you enjoy these pictures of our final week of term. Thank you for all your support throughout a wonderful year. I wish you all a happy, restful and enjoyable summer with family and friends. 

With best wishes 

James Raymond 

Head