This week is national Anti-Bullying Week and Deputy Headteacher Mrs Lewis has been leading assemblies on the subject. I wouldn’t want to repeat what has been said – students should be able to talk about the content of the assembly at home – but the message that things can be shared, reported and described and that appropriate action will always be taken cannot be overstated. We are a school community in which relationships are strong but when they occasionally break down we work hard to put them back together in appropriate ways and this is understood by all.

One of the great aspects of our school community is the way in which older students support the younger ones. This is formally through examples such as Sixth Form students who are Peer Supporters around the school and Student Ambassadors in lessons and less formally, perhaps most notably though our Year 11 Prefects who support younger students across the school community, particularly when looking out for them on journeys to and from school and around school at break, lunchtime and the start and end of each day. None of these young people have to do this but they do because they are want to play their role as part of a strong school community and that is something which we value and of which we are very proud.

I was asked to speak at an event this week about our school community and I really didn’t know where to begin. I ended up speaking about one unnamed student who had overcome adversity to both fulfil their potential in their public exams but to also be a simply brilliant young person. I described their individual achievements but also reflected on how a strong school community – teachers and associate staff, their friends and their peer group – had provided support, care and guidance when it was needed most and that this lies at the heart of the values and day-to-day reality of Wallingford School.