Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you are all well.

I must start by saying a massive thank you to all our wonderful families for both your generosity in supporting our Children in Need day but also for helping your child select their spotted outfit! On such a miserable rainy day, it has been most uplifting seeing children around the school in their various wardrobe choices!

Also this week, I wanted to share how incredibly proud we were of all the children during our Remembrance Day observance. The children showed wonderful maturity and respect as they participated in the two-minute silence on Tuesday, creating a truly peaceful and reflective atmosphere across the school. In addition to this quiet tribute, the children also put a lot of care and creativity into making some beautiful wreaths, which are now on display around the school. Well done to everyone for honoring this important day with such thought and sincerity.

On Thursday, we were delighted to welcome into the school several primary directors and headteachers from across Danes Educational Trust for our annual school review. Whilst the outcomes held no major surprises for school leaders, they served to affirm our priorities and establish a crystal-clear roadmap for raising standards and moving the school forward. I must take this opportunity to thank both our staff team and, most importantly, our children for making De Havilland such a lovely place to spend the day. One visiting headteacher commented, "It was an absolute pleasure spending today at De Havilland. What a great school!" The positive feedback received from the trust's Director of Inclusion regarding our school culture also gave me a real sense of pride as Headteacher, with them sharing that, "The school’s culture is that people care and are kind."

I hope you manage to stay dry this weekend! My hometown is switching its Christmas lights on tomorrow (a little early, I feel!) so it'll be waterproofs all round by the looks of it.

Mr. Bostock