Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s been a super first week of term! Welcome back - I hope you enjoyed seeing everyone back in school after a lovely Easter holiday. As we look ahead, I’m excited for my final months at HTPD.

Today, it’s been great to meet Vicky Ellis, HTPD’s new headteacher from September. She fitted in straight away, meeting staff over breakfast this morning, and chatting about how she and I will make sure there’s a really smooth handover. She’s also really looking forward to saying hello to many of you at the gate this afternoon. I’m sure that you’ll want to join me in congratulating her. It really is one of the best jobs in the world and I’m looking forward to seeing her take over steering this magnificent ship!

I also had another brilliant day earlier in the week – with Kayleigh Ashraf, our science lead, I had the privilege of accompanying Emily, Evie, Poppy and Alicia, four girls from Year 5, to the final of an international science competition held at Imperial College London. They were one of only three teams to have been selected for this outstanding accolade and they presented their ideas to a panel of academics so professionally. Do take a look at the photos on the website – the girls were amazing; so clearly communicating their ideas about clearing micro-plastics from the oceans, and being commended for their innovative, creative science. What a credit to the school and an inspiration to others for their “zest for learning and love of life”.

I spoke to the juniors in assembly about the importance of this value at the very start of this new term, reminding them of their responsibility to make the most of every learning opportunity – not missing a moment, and being careful not to disturb anyone else’s learning either. I’ve been so impressed by the almost 100% engagement that’s been evident in the classrooms since the start of the week. We all recognise that we’re happier and more fulfilled when we’ve enthusiastically given our very best and it’s a great attitude to foster for a fulfilling life ahead. Do encourage your children to keep up this great effort, as the national curriculum urges “knowing more and remembering more” each day.

Later in the term, you’ll be sad to hear that Nidhi, one of our amazing office team will be leaving. She’ll be spending some time overseas with family and we will miss her very much. She’s the fount of all knowledge about HTPD! If you have any previous office or admin experience, do get in touch with Bev, our school business manager (bevr@htpd.surrey.sch.uk) if you’d like to talk about the role that she leaves - we’ll be looking for someone who could work from 1 until 6pm each day.

Before I close, please remember my usual safe driving and parking pleas at the start of this new term. It’s so important to be respectful of each other and our neighbours by not blocking driveways or pavements, and keeping the zigzags and double yellow lines free so that it’s safe to cross. It’s great to see so many families walking, scooting or cycling in, but let’s make the roads around school safe for these pedestrians by parking further away and not using Cline Road or parking at the school gates. Please, please, please let’s make this better and think of others before ourselves. It would be awful to cause an accident and injure a child.

Thank you for a really great start to the term; enjoy the weekend!

With much love,

Clare