Dear Parents and Carers
Well, it has been quite a busy week, and therefore somewhat easy to forget some of the wonderful things taking place at our school right now. Either side of the weekend was all about the departures of our Year 11s and Year 13s. Starting with the Year 11s, they were simply impeccable on a balmy evening for their Prom last Thursday. We struggled to recall a group so thankful and joyful to be in one another’s company right up to the very end. And then, on Monday, they had their day at Thorpe Park and this went off without a hitch as well and provided that final opportunity to enjoy one another’s company and reflect on all the joys that come with the hard work that success demands of us all. My thanks to Mrs Lee, Mr Goodson, Mrs Gannon and the finance team for organising these essential rites of passage.
On Friday night, the new-style Year 13 Leavers’ Event was superb – it really was! Supported by the PTA on (non-alcoholic) refreshments, our leavers enjoyed a very fancy buffet, and a series of awards and musical performances. Mr Ward was in his tux and led us perfectly through an evening of celebration and thanks. Again, the theme was very much about how everyone in that year group had always sought to just get along and work hard for one another and were able to enjoy the fruits of all those hard labours. We said farewell to them just after 8pm and understand that a field not far away became the venue for their own party on one of the longest nights of the year. Mr Ward, Mrs Davison, Mrs Eakins and Mr Gent work so well as a team and alongside the PTA and finance teams, put something very special together that will become our new blueprint for many years to come.
In between those events, at the weekend, the penultimate Duke of Edinburgh expedition for this year set out. Please read below for a fuller reflection of this programme and my thanks to all those who have made it happen – even more popular than ever before!
Year 8 Cricketing Success
Our terrific Year 8 cricket team are currently celebrating a very successful week indeed. On Tuesday, at the beautiful Wormsley Cricket Ground, our boys competed against Lord Williams’s School in the Oxfordshire County final. They reached 139, with Andrew Taylor hitting 45 runs. Lord Williams’s School were all out for 105 and therefore they secured a wonderful victory for our school. You may recall that the boys reached the final by virtue of beating Bartholomew School in the semi-final and secured a record 207 runs, with the Captain, George Eaton, scoring 81 not out: a modern record for CNS.
And there’s more…
On Wednesday evening, the boys then played Burford School in the quarter-final of the league championship. Andrew Taylor scored another 45 runs and contributed another fine total of 144. Burford could only reply with 89 runs and so we have another semi-final to look forward to and maybe even secure ‘the double’ as well. The boys work so supportively and passionately as a team and their prowess has been many years in the making. We are proud of all of them and in particular their sportsmanship, character and passion for the game.
Congratulations to our cricketing stars: Ethan Brook, Fenton Bayliss, Josh Dangerfield, George Eaton, Gordy Jones, Lincoln Maule, Callum Rothwell, Cohen Stubbs, Sam Stafford, Dan Sparvell, Freddie Shadbolt and Andrew Taylor.
I also wish to thank Mr Burgess (Coach) and Mr Thomas (Head of PE) for ensuring that we can help maximise their love of and talent for cricket. I know that both are extremely proud and honoured to be part of their success.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Updates
I am also pleased to report that it has been a record year for Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh participants. The final Bronze expedition took place last weekend, and it is worth mentioning that the scale of the programmes now at CNS would not be possible without the wonderful leadership of Miss Richmond and Miss Miles. Innumerable lunchtimes, after school sessions and weekends have been given over to this award, meaning that well over one hundred students have completed this prestigious award this year. In addition, I wish to thank and pay tribute to the very large number of staff who have also volunteered their time this year: Ms Licence, Ms Skill, Mrs White, Miss Johnston, Miss Busby, Mr Newton, Mrs du Cros, Mrs Thomas, Mrs Saxby, Miss Ware, Mrs Brocklebank, Mr Thomas, Mr Hall, Mrs Huddleston (and family!), Mr Brown, Mr White, Mrs Brassington, Mrs Duffy, Ms Eakins, Mr Blundell, Mr McGoldrick, Ms Brown, Ms Claxton and Mr Hardy. And good luck to the twenty Gold award participants whose final expedition takes place in mid-July.
Year 6 into 7 Bridge Club
I am running out of space to mention Mrs Faulkner’s Bridge Club that took place on Wednesday. Mrs Faulkner and Mrs Smart (SENDCo) welcomed forty-two children and their families for a pre-induction visit and activities. This heralds next week’s Year 6 into 7 induction days and welcome events which coincide with the Year 10 work experience. Right now, we are oversubscribed in the majority of our year groups and welcome a full new year group in September that promises to be hugely successful in seven years’ time.
Music Concert
And to complete my summary of the past seven days, I would like to mention last night’s music concert that took place in our main hall. I feel sure that Mr Brown will be providing a fuller summary of the event but I’d like to pay tribute to all the performers, across all year groups, who displayed remarkable talent and unflappable courage. The PTA was there again to provide refreshments and raised over £300 towards the outdoor area. An enormous amount of work goes into preparing and delivering these large-scale public events. Therefore, as well as thanking Mr Brown, Miss Johnston, Mrs Bissett, Miss Ware, Mr Hall, Miss Bovington, Miss Richmond, Mrs White and peripatetic staff for their endeavours, I also want to thank the students who helped with the sound and lights, the finance team, the site team, and all of the parents and families who are so supportive and encouraging.
PTA Fundraiser Updates
The Year 7 Screen Swap begins today and ends on Sunday 6 July – please give generously to support the construction of an outdoor area. Meanwhile a baker’s dozen of staff head off to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons) tomorrow and we are closing in on our £1000 target. If you feel able to support us with a small or not-so-small donation for that outdoor area, then please do follow this link to our JustGiving page. A big thanks to Mr White (Assistant Head of Maths) for organising us before and during the weekend’s expedition.
Biometrics Reminder
We hope it has been difficult to avoid our gentle reminders about the biometric capture day on Wednesday 9 July, and the need for families to provide consent beforehand. More details on this appear in my previous letter to families. Registration can be completed in the MCAS app by clicking on parent approval from the dashboard and then choosing biometric approval.
Weather Watch
We know that families have appreciated the flexibility to adapt our school uniform requirements when the weather decides to throw some challenges our way. Mr Trainer will continue to provide updates and note that we have a mixture of very hot and then very normal weather thereafter, next week.
Until then have a lovely weekend and I shall be in touch again for what will probably be my last ‘normal’ letter to you on Friday 11 July.
Yours faithfully
Barry Doherty
Headteacher
