A warm welcome to the beginning of the academic year 2023/24. It has been a sizzling start to the term where we hope we return to more reasonable temperatures on Monday and ‘normal’ school uniform. There are times of the year when we closely monitor the weather forecast and this week has been about determining the times in the school day when the temperatures rise to their hottest and decide whether to make adjustments. The longer the hot spell the earlier the temperatures rise, hence the reason to make changes.
Students have responded well and for us to be able to make those adjustments we rely on them returning back to normal as quickly as possible.
The summer break always allows time to refresh and develop the school site and there has been a good deal of work undertaken to improve the school. Building works to the extension of the canteen are well underway and we hope to have this ready for the Spring term. Students seem to be enjoying the basketball hoops and court markings that have been installed in the main school playground. We are always trying to improve the social fabric as well as the academic aspects of the school. The football goals that were purchased and located on the school fields during the summer term have been both well used and looked after, and a good deal of fun has been had during breaks and lunchtimes.
On Tuesday, students voted on the name of the newly formed student leadership roles within the school and this will be announced in due course. Those students who were successfully recruited to the roles will undertake training at Bucks New University, Aylesbury very soon and I look forward to watching and listening to them grow.
It has been great to see our new Year 7 students finally arrive and be part of our school. They will soon get to know the layout of the school and the timings of the school day and I appreciate the time and care that our Year 10 Buddies put into supporting their early weeks at The Grange. It is an important element of the transition process. In addition to Year 7 we welcome 93 students into our 6th Form as Year 12 students. Many have been part of our school for the past five years but there are those who are new to The Grange and we hope that they are as equally successful and enjoy our 6th Form experience.
This is the start of my nineteenth year at The Grange. It is a privilege to work with our wonderful school community and I am looking forward very much to what this academic year brings. Every day is a learning day and I hope your children have a wonderful experience.