A restful summer ahead

      As another academic year draws to its close - my 27th as a teacher and my 10th at NGHS - I am ever grateful for the momentum of summer terms in primary schools.  Sports days (even the re-scheduled ones), concerts, awards, assemblies, moving up mornings, residential visits, report writing and more besides!

      Of course, this sustained high-energy activity impacts every member of the school community.  Tired girls, frazzled teachers and over-loaded parents - but would I change it?  No, because these events and experiences enable important memories to be made at school and provide many students with a strong sense of belonging, which in turn leads to positive outcomes.

      I am however always conscious of the number of events to which parents are invited at this time of year, and I completely understand when schedules just won't enable this (I am married to a non-teacher, so this is a regular discussion point in our home).  My hope is that girls will understand when a parent cannot visit school because they are working, and that they understand this is in fact essential to pay for all the nice things that they are lucky enough to enjoy.  The learning here is that sometimes you have to miss out on fun things because you are committed to something else (an important life lesson that helps build resilience and cope with disappointment!) As a staff, we will reinforce this message with the girls where necessary, so feel free to do the same at home.

      Thank you for your continued support of your daughters and NGHS this year, and I look forward to welcoming you all back in September for another fantastic year of learning and memory making.  Until then, enjoy the rest and quality time with your children.

Mrs Laura Fowler

Head of Nursery,  Pre-School, Infant and Junior School