Dear Parents

Working Together

Given the unprecedented circumstances of the Summer Term (2020), it has been truly inspiring to welcome both students and members of staff back to School.  The LHS community is, once again, alive, vibrant and populated with eager and engaged students and staff.  I would like to reassure you that all reasonable measures have been taken to ensure the safety of every member of our community.  Our Risk Assessment, which has been approved by Governors, is on the School website, and will be up-dated on a regular basis to reflect current Government guidance.  As always, I will endeavour to keep all parents fully informed throughout the academic year.

We begin this term celebrating another year of excellent public examination results.  GCSE results were outstanding, with 83% of entries achieving levels 9 to 7 (or A* to A in the old currency), and 100% achieved levels 9 to 5.  The A Level results were equally impressive, with 82% of the entries achieving A* to B; indeed, 58% of all grades were A* and A, with 100% pass-rate.  Armed with excellent A Levels, the Year 13 girls are moving to the universities of their choice.  Congratulations must go to both the girls and their teachers for all their hard work and commitment.  Well done to all!

Staff News

I am delighted to introduce to you our new members of staff who have joined the High School Community: Mrs Laura Walton joins the Junior Department as class teacher of Year 4, whilst Miss Sophie Leaning joins the Senior School Geography Department.  I’m sure both newly appointed members of staff will be very happy here and have much to contribute to the LHS family.

Uniform and Dress Code

At the beginning of a new academic year, may I ask for your continued support in raising and maintaining the highest possible standards in School uniform and the Sixth Form Dress Code.  I expect the girls to be smart and appropriately dressed for school and fully compliant with School rules, including Sixth Formers.

Working Together

I have decided to name this academic year: Working Together. I am encouraging students and staff to embrace this philosophy in both attitude and application.  I do hope that you will support me in this, as we strive to provide your daughters with the highest possible standard of education.  As teachers, we encourage our students to work towards excellence in all areas of life, in particular, School life, as we prepare them for Sixth Form, university and beyond.  Now more than ever, it is essential that we support one another as we try to navigate our way through challenging times.  Our priorities remain unchanged: to provide a safe environment in which to enable your daughters to truly fulfil their potential.  Please work with us to achieve these fundamental aims.

Pastoral Support

The pastoral care of your daughters is of paramount concern to us: a happy student is a successful student. For your information, please see the Pastoral Team below:

Year Group	Member of Staff
Head of Years 6 & 7	Mrs Kate McCarthy
Head of Years 8 & 9 With an over-view of KS3	Mrs Deborah Morgan
Head of Years 10 & 11	Mrs Jo Rose
Head of Years 12 & 13	Miss Kam Purewal

 

As we begin a new academic year, may I remind parents to continue to drive and park with due consideration for those who live around the School.  We very much rely on the goodwill and support of our neighbours.  This is especially important when vehicle access to the School site is so restricted at the present time, and parents will be dropping off and collecting pupils from the immediate side streets.

This term will, inevitably, be quite different from any other term.  As a School, we aim to continue to embed and extend all the positive features of remote learning, whilst adapting our classroom pedagogy to facilitate a socially distanced teaching and learning environment.  Do we have all the answers?  Of course not! Nor, it seems, does the Government. However, we are absolutely committed to maintaining the excellent standards of service that our students and parents have come to expect.

I look forward to working with you and your daughters in what I hope will be a purposeful, exciting and collaborative academic year.

With every good wish.

 

Alan Whelpdale 

Headmaster