This has been the week when the extra-curricular life of the school has really kicked back in. Practices for the Bigg Band, rehearsals for the school production, fixtures in rugby and football and a lot more sports training were just some of the things going on. Equally, trips have included visits to Bletchley Park, Studland Bay, Christchurch (Dorset not New Zealand!) – and even the Bullcroft where Year 8 students are learning about local history.

Extra-curricular activities, trips and visits are an integral part of what we do at Wallingford School and all of this feels like a familiar engine sparking back into life again with a reassuring rumble. There is of course much more to come and we eagerly look forward to the year ahead. In addition, our broad enrichment programme is knitted throughout the curriculum and today we celebrate European Day of Languages – a big thankyou to our Modern Foreign Languages department for all of their work in preparing for this.

Next week is a big week with House assemblies which will focus the spirit of participation and competition which the House rivalry fosters. It’s a really exciting year to come with a great range of House activities planned and these assemblies mark the start of it all.

A reminder that our School Open Evening is on Thursday 7th October and that school will finish at 12.40pm on the day. The school will of course be at its tidiest for the evening and someone said to me today that it must be frustrating that much of the school is currently a building site. My feeling is the opposite. The building represents the growth of the school and reflects its success. It is also a metaphor for potential with its girders and concrete, scaffolding and bricks forming something new which will provide our school community with the very best facilities for years to come as it continues to grow – without doubt exciting times ahead.