Dear Everyone,

What a busy, exciting summer term we have had at The Royal School, although I think everyone is now exhausted and ready for a holiday! The children have worked really hard and have participated in a whole range of activities.

We enjoyed celebrating His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation with a garden tea party and have held a summer concert of drama and music as well as many other events celebrating the children’s many talents, including violin, trombone and piano recitals.

The weather has been mostly kind to us, sports day and the ‘change over’ were dry and not too hot, and the sun shone for the PTA Summer Fair which was a great success. I want to say a huge thank you to the PTA committee, and everyone else involved in fundraising, there has been a fantastic team effort and a lot of generosity of spirit, and you have raised an amazing grand total of £15,086.48!

A great deal of the PTA money raised has been spent on furniture and furnishings for the classrooms, to create better learning environments for the children, and on reading books and a new phonics scheme that everyone will benefit from – thank you!

As always during the summer term we have been preparing the children for the changes ahead – everyone has visited their new classes and in the case of the Swans children their new schools. We said an emotional goodbye to the Swans at their Leavers’ Service at the Royal Chapel on the last day of term. We will certainly miss them all and thank them for all they have contributed to The Royal School over the years. Swans, I hope you will all return as Old Scholars on the 8^th October to tell us about how you are getting on!

We have also had to say farewell to two members of staff this term. Mrs Simon left to go on maternity leave at the beginning of June but sadly, won’t be coming back as she is moving to America with her husband and new baby – congratulations to Mr and Mrs Simon on the birth of their baby daughter Isabella Rose Simon (Bella) who is now a few weeks old! We also said goodbye to Mrs Erler who left at the end of term. Mrs Erler is also moving a long way away with her family – to Australia!  We wish Mrs Simon and Mrs Erler all the best on their new adventures!

Whilst there aren’t any children in school over the holiday period there is still a lot going on at school. The Wrens classroom is being completely refurbished over the summer. The Crown Estate are also continuing with their decorating of the outside of the school building - thank you. And I know the office staff and I am excited as we are having a new, much needed, computer server fitted – this will help speed up everything we do and support our efforts going forward to become cashless!

I can’t believe how fast my first year as being Head at The Royal School has flown by, and how much has happened in a year starting with the very sad death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and then the crowning of a new King. It certainly has been a year I will always remember. I love being part of The Royal School community and want to thank you all for making me feel so welcome and for all your on-going support.

I wish you all a really lovely summer break and look forward to seeing everyone again in September.

Victoria Harrall

Wishing all of you a wonderful summer filled with blessings and God’s grace…