Dear Parents and Carers,

Here we are at the end of another busy academic year! Looking back, it’s been a year of success alongside its fair share of challenges, both for our school community and for me as Headteacher. In case I was not already aware, this year has certainly taught me to expect the unexpected and that the mix of triumphs and unexpected twists is just business as usual at De Havilland. 

As always at this time of year, the excitement of the summer break comes with a bit of sadness as we say goodbye to some wonderful staff. First up, Miss Mason. She may have only been with us for a year, but Miss Mason has poured every ounce of energy she possesses into her role at De Hav, bringing so much kindness, patience and resilience to our team. As well as teaching Pine class across the year, she helped launch our OPAL working group, which is sure to leave a lasting mark on our school. We are so grateful for everything she’s brought to our community, and we wish her all the very best as she heads off to her new school closer to home.

Our second farewell is to our very own Mrs. Gamage, who is moving on after an incredible 10 years at De Havilland. I will never forget my very first visit here back in the autumn of 2020. As I sat in the staff room waiting for a tour, Mrs. Gamage was the very first person to offer a warm smile and make me feel welcome. That moment truly sums up what she brings to school every single day: a radiant kindness that will be almost impossible to replace. Beyond her daily sunshine, Mrs. Gamage has poured so much energy into bringing our art curriculum to life this year. A personal highlight of the year for me was seeing it all come together in our Art Gallery a few Fridays ago where it was so wonderful to see so many of parents and carers there seeing what had been accomplished too. Mrs. Gamage, thank you for everything. We wish you all the happiness in the world as you too move to a school closer to home.

We are also saying a temporary goodbye, and sending huge congratulations, to Mrs. Barnes, who will be heading off on maternity leave at the beginning of September. Mrs. Barnes has done a remarkable job driving our writing standards forward, and while her passion for English will certainly be missed around the corridors, she is not leaving us empty-handed and has worked tirelessly to make sure everything is set up, organised, and running smoothly for the year ahead. I know I speak for the whole team when I say how grateful we are for all her hard work in getting us so well-prepared. We wish Mrs. Barnes and her family all the very best as they prepare to welcome their new arrival. 

I want to end my final newsletter of the year with a heartfelt thank you to everyone in our De Havilland community. This year has had its fair share of tough moments, but I am so proud of the grit and effort shown by our whole team. While we all need a well-deserved break to recharge, please rest assured that the hard work does not stop. Over the summer holidays, we will be laying the groundwork to ensure that when we return in September, we hit the ground running, driving our standards forward and delivering the very best for our children.

Stay well this summer and look after yourselves,

Mr Bostock

Headteacher