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Dear Parents & Carers
It’s hard to believe that we are already in the final week before half term! What a wonderful start to the year it has been. The school has been alive with curiosity, laughter and learning and it has been such a joy to see our new Reception girls, along with those who have joined other year groups, settle in so beautifully. Watching the girls form new friendships, connect so positively with their teachers and embrace the challenges and opportunities of their new year group with such enthusiasm has been truly heart-warming.
Moments like these remind me why the Junior School is such a special place. We are proud to be an academically ambitious school that celebrates curiosity, creativity and achievement in equal measure. We believe that a great education extends far beyond the classroom, nurturing every aspect of a girl’s development and helping her to grow into a confident, compassionate and resilient young person. The Channing Characters play an important part in this journey, helping the girls recognise and reflect on the values that guide their actions – from Perseverance Squirrel tackling challenges with determination, to Curiosity Fox exploring new ideas with confidence and joy.
Our environment is both supportive and purposeful, inspiring the girls to take risks, persevere when things are tricky, and take genuine pride in their learning. Much of this is rooted in our approach to the Learning Pit, which encourages the girls to see mistakes and struggle as a natural and valuable part of learning. When they find themselves “in the pit,” we remind them that this is where the deepest thinking and growth happen, and that with effort, resilience and support, they will climb out stronger, more capable and more confident than before. This powerful message runs through all that we do, helping the girls to develop both self-belief and a lifelong love of learning.
Thinking about this approach has made me reflect on my own school days and what first inspired me to become a teacher. I have such fond memories of my time in primary school; it was a caring and nurturing time where my love of learning truly took root. Teaching seems to run in my family – my great-grandfather was a headmaster in Cyprus, where my family are originally from, and several relatives have followed in his footsteps. When I first began teaching, I could never have imagined one day becoming a Head, but as my confidence grew, I realised that through leadership I could have an even greater influence on the educational experiences of more children, helping to shape the kind of learning community I would have loved as a child.
That sense of curiosity and growth has stayed with me throughout my career. I’ve always believed that learning doesn’t stop when we leave school (although you could argue that I’ve never really left!). In fact, it becomes even more rewarding as adults. Ten years ago, I trained as a Team Inspector for the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) and since then I have had the privilege of inspecting a couple of schools each year. It’s an incredible form of professional development: inspiring, thought-provoking and rather exhausting!
This summer, I decided to take things a step further and completed the intensive training to become a Reporting Inspector, the person who leads the inspection team. The week-long course was both fascinating and demanding and it reminded me what it’s like to be one of our own pupils – sitting and learning all day, then heading home to tackle homework. There were certainly moments when I found myself deep in the Learning Pit, but it was such a valuable experience and a powerful reminder of what our girls experience each day as learners.
This week I’ll be away on my first inspection in this new role, shadowing an experienced Reporting Inspector before taking the lead independently in future. Although I’ll miss being at the gate and seeing you and the girls each morning, I know the girls will make the most of their final week, enjoying new challenges and ending the half term on a high.
As we head into half term, I hope you all find a little time to rest and recharge, whether you’re staying close to home or heading away for a change of scene. To our families celebrating Simchat Torah tonight and tomorrow, I wish you Chag Sameach. And to everyone marking Diwali, my very warmest wishes for a joyful celebration – may the Festival of Lights fill your homes with happiness, hope and love, and the year ahead with peace and prosperity.
With warm wishes
Miss Dina Hamalis
Head of the Junior School
