I was delighted that so many of you were able to join us for this year’s splendid Jubilee Celebrations. This was a wonderful way of celebrating together the really quite remarkable creative talents of the children, and I hope the opportunity to experience some of the Senior School’s art and music will have been as much an inspiration to the children as it was to me. My thanks to Mrs Ongley, Mrs Davis, Mrs Hillier and all the other staff who made this such a lovely evening. There was a wonderful buzz to the school on Open Morning, and I was pleased that so many pupils were able to take time out from their normal Saturday morning activities to join us for what proved to be a fun and busy morning. Classroom and corridor displays are looking very fine at the moment, and many prospective parents have commented to me recently on the friendly atmosphere that permeates the school.

I spent a few days at the end of last week meeting with fellow ISA heads in Brighton. The independent sector as a whole is clearly very healthy at the moment, and we heard news of an OECD survey placing the UK independent sector ahead of comparable sectors world wide. The distinctiveness of these schools was very evident, as was a shared understanding that education is about character as well as academic outcomes, something at the core of our own ethos.

The prep school is very pleased to be supporting the local Alton and Holybourne Greening Campaign. Members of the Prep School Choir will join the Senior Choir as part of the launch festivities in the park from 12:00 on Saturday 7th June, and I’d certainly encourage prep school parents to take part in the many activities planned for the town on that day, including a cycle ride, walks, other live music in the park, an exhibition of green technologies in the community centre. Full details are on the campaign website at www.greeningalton.org.uk.

I’ve been impressed by how well the children have coped with this week’s battery of NFER and other assessments: they certainly seem to have taken the tests in their stride, with many pupils telling me that they’ve quite enjoyed the experience! I plan to make a start on analysing scores over half term. I do hope your children make the most of the week off, returning relaxed and refreshed for the final half term of the year.

Miles Berry, Head of the Prep Department.