Headmaster's Message

Headmaster's Message

Dear Parents

It has been a very busy week for me personally, as well as all the staff here, as we have welcomed the Independent Schools Inspectors onto the site. This has been a four-day inspection where they have looked at all aspects of the safe running of the school as well as the quality of the education that we provide. As I go to press, I have no news on the outcome of the inspection, but we will of course let all of the parents know as soon as we are able to do so.

I have though been able to see the responses of both parents and children to the surveys that were sent out earlier in the week. Many thanks indeed to everyone who responded. I know that the inspectors were very impressed with the rate of response, which was much higher than it is in many schools. I also know that many parents felt able to give us strong and positive feedback on all aspects of school life. At the same time, of course, I also listen to the smaller number of people who were less happy and we will take these responses seriously as we move forward.

Whatever the outcome of an inspection, it is always a learning experience for a school and that is very much how I look at these things. It is an opportunity to improve and develop new strategies to help us educate your children better and further enhance our pastoral care system for personal development.

Today we also welcomed Rugby’s Deputy Mayor to the school to open the Horton Centre. The children were very excited by his appearance, although I think for the younger ones there was some confusion between who were the inspectors and who was the mayor. It was a very jolly occasion, and I know that the children enjoyed their special biscuits after the event. The Horton Centre will be open for parents during the open corridor session next Friday and I hope you are able to come and have a look around.

Next week we also have our first parents’ consultation meetings of the year. You will notice that some will happen in person, whilst others will take place online and on Teams. Our intention is to look at each consultation evening individually and decide on the correct format for that particular meeting. We consulted with parents at the end of last school year and this seems to be the most sensible way forward. Online meetings work in lots of instances, but for younger children, and when it is important to see work in books, then we prefer to bring parents in to the school.

If you are coming along next week I hope to see you then and I wish everyone a relaxing weekend.

Joe Thackway
Headmaster