From the Headmaster's Desk

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break.

This week saw a major announcement about the future of Lyonsdown and our plans to embrace all girls’ education and become an all girls’ School by 2022.  More information can be found by clicking here. It has been wonderful to speak to so many parents about the developments we have planned, including enriching our curriculum and enhancing our buildings and facilities, and to see so many of the children excited about the news. If you would like to discuss anything about our plans, please do not hesitate to catch me at the gate, or arrange a time to speak when convenient for you.

Christmas is always a wonderful time of year, a chance to relax and reenergise. The children have come back to Lyonsdown enthusiastic to learn and get stuck into the Spring Term. Some girls and boys have told me about the gifts they were lucky enough to receive, with books and board games coming in as top choices. Free time gives us that opportunity to indulge a passion, or hobby… perhaps numismatics or hockey, and I hope that any new interests your daughter or son has discovered over the break, will continue to be explored at school and at home.

But, as well as exploring extra-curricular opportunities, for some, the Spring Term also brings the challenge of, or preparation for, exams and entry tests for Year 6 girls and Year 2 boys. Some may also sit academic, music or other scholarships. The next few months are certainly a time to persevere (this term’s Lyonsdown Learning habit) for these children, but working hard is an attribute that all the pupils benefit from. In my assembly on Monday, the fact that the most senior girls in the school could not tie a tie was by no means a disaster. Not being able to give the right answer or perform a skill, an experience everyone has gone through, is not necessarily bad. It teaches us what we are successful at and what we cannot do yet. Learning is a journey, and there is always something to improve. Hard work will always be worthwhile and valued.

I hope you all have a relaxing weekend.

C. Hammond

Riddle me this
Horses are almost perfect animals, so on pointe, but why would they make excellent ballerinas?