This week

Assemblies this week focused on why February is LGBTQIA+ history month and why it is important all in our community come together to support equality and to not by bystanders when minority groups are being treated unfairly or unkindly. Throughout all of February we have been flying the pride flag, and in the assembly students were shown an even more up to date version of this and informed what all the colours represent.

On Friday, prefects who are standing for senior prefect positions including those of Head Prefect delivered very high quality speeches to their peers and staff. Voting will now take place to decide who will go through to the final stage, which is an interview with the Head Teacher and senior Sixth Form staff. A theme that ran through all of the speeches was that of service, both to the School and the wider community. Whatever the final outcome of the selection process, all of those who took part should be congratulated on the quality of their delivery and thanked for their ongoing service to others.

Silence for Ukraine

On Friday, we arranged to join in with the national one minute’s silence to mark the anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Some of the children who joined the School from Ukraine had the opportunity to plant flowers in some new planters outside our Learning Hub area. They had lots of fun together in this activity, but were also able to have time to reflect on events that have happened to them and their country during the past year.

Trips

The annual ski trip over the February half-term break was a huge success. Thank you to all the staff who gave of their time to ensure our students had a fantastic time. Staff received many compliments about our students: from the coach drivers, the in-resort agent, the hotel manager and the ski school and their instructors. All students exemplified the School values and as staff it made us very proud of them.

Athletics successes

On the Friday before half term (10^th Feb), our Year 7 and Year 8 girls’ Indoor Sports Hall Athletics teams took part in the London Youth Games 2023 Qualifier 4, where they represented the whole of Bromley. This automatic qualification was due to all our previous successes in this competition.

Both teams performed fantastically on the day, competing in various individual events that resulted in the Year 7 team placing sixth out of eight boroughs. Our outstanding success came from the Year 8 team who placed first of the eight boroughs therefore qualified for the final on Tuesday, 21^st March.

Congratulations also to Charlie Platt, Year 9, who over the half-term break became UK Under-15 pole vault champion. This is such an achievement and we look forward to a very successful summer season for Charlie.

Dates for the diary

Wednesday, 1st March	Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Wednesday, 8th March	Year 9 Options Evening
Tuesday, 21st March	Year 9 Parents’ Evening
Wednesday, 29th March	Year 8 Parents’ Evening
Monday, 3rd April to Friday, 14th April	EASTER HOLIDAY (return Monday, 17th April)
Thursday, 20th April	Year 7 Parents’ Evening