Summer 2024

Dear Everyone,

Wow, doesn’t time fly by when you are having fun, another term and another year! The summer term has been really busy and I know everyone is looking forward to a well-deserved break and a rest.

The children were very excited to return from their Easter break and see the delivery of 10 unhatched chicken eggs in an incubator. We all absolutely loved watching the chicks hatch and spending 2 weeks with our new brood of fluffy chicks. All of the children were delighted to hold them and see how quickly they grew their adult feathers. Thank you to Teddy’s parents for adopting them for us. The children have been asking which pet we can have next?!

Thank you to the PTA and other parents for your on-going support of the school and for organising a number events over the summer term including clothing recycling, a sponsored run, a disco BBQ at The York Club, a very busy week at the Ascot change over point, an ice pop stand, and of course our Summer Fair. All have been a huge success – we really appreciate the time and effort you put in.

Our participation, and success, in external sporting events have continued to grow – we really do have some very talented children at The Royal School! This term the children have enjoyed taking part in netball, cricket, a biathlon (swimming and running), and running events with other schools. Participation in these events, in combination with our own PE curriculum, and partnership with WSSP have resulted in us being awarded a Gold level School Sports Mark which is a huge achievement! Over the summer term we have had a number of sports coaches coming into school, Puffins have enjoyed swimming lessons and Sports Day was great fun for everyone.

Talking of talented children, we have enjoyed a number of end of year music concerts performed by children who have been learning to play the violin, piano and/or clarinet, the standard was really high and testament to their hard work and perseverance, I have enjoyed being able to award certificates following fantastic results to music exams in assembly. Our Dramatica Show Choir, Street Dance and Drama group all treated us all to a fantastic performance and I’m also delighted to be able to say that the seven children who sat the LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) all passed their entry level exam with a Distinction – well done to you all, that is an amazing result!

We have been busy working hard to digitalise our library. All of the books now have barcodes and, from September, the children will be able to scan them in and out – much more exciting than signing them out in a folder! Upgrading our library is a step forwards on our journey to developing every child’s love of reading.

Classes have visited a number of places this term all of which have enhanced the curriculum. Owls and Swans learnt a lot about farming at Waltham Place Farm. They also spent a morning at The Marist using their environmental centre and facilities, and were treated to a visit to Royal Ascot. Wrens and Puffins spent a lovely day at Wellington Country Park. The whole school saw Their Majesties The King and Queen and other members of The Royal Family at the Ascot change over point. Puffins spent a morning at Bishopsgate School working on ICT. And Swans loved their three day residential trip to Sayers Croft. Considering the weather has been so awful this term we have been really lucky to dodge most of the rain when we have been out and about!

Little Muddy Boots came in to school to help the children plant their potatoes which were entered into The Royal Windsor Flower Show alongside our wheelbarrow which won a Highly Commended prize! The intermittent rain and sun have helped Puffins grow, what seem like, the biggest onions ever and our sunflowers, hanging baskets and plant pots are looking splendid. Thank you to all the adults who have helped with planting and watering!

(Of course, the downside with the weather is that the weeds have also gone mad! We are having a garden tidy day on the 2nd September from 10am. As many hands as possible are needed if you can spare some time to help!!)

In support of World Bee Day we held a competition to raise awareness of the significance and plight of our bees. The theme this year was 'Bee engaged with Youth' - the children's entries were amazing and so difficult to judge!

At the end of June we held an Old Scholars’ reunion event, which was well attended, at which Old Scholars’ prizes were awarded to some of our Swans children for Academic Achievement and Outstanding Contribution to The Royal School. Well done to the prize winners!

Our new Wrens children have been in for visits and all of the children have spent time in their new classrooms in preparation for September. We had to say a very emotional farewell to our Swans at our Royal Chapel leavers’ service on the last day of term. We will really miss them all, want to thank them, and their families, for everything they have contributed to The Royal School, and wish them good luck for the next steps in their school journeys.

We also had to say a sad farewell to Miss Lancaster who will also really be missed. Miss Lancaster is moving onto new adventures which we know she will be fantastic at – thank you Miss Lancaster for everything you have done over the years for The Royal School, we wish you all the very best.

I hope you all have a fantastic summer break and look forward to seeing everyone again in September.

Victoria Harrall