Everyone at school is settling well into the new term. It has been wonderful to see the children enjoying the space and facilities as we bask in a warm and sunny September. I think we have experienced only three days of rain since we have moved to Devon at the beginning of August and we are being lulled into a sense that the weather is always glorious here (although staff and children do tell me differently!)
When I sit in my office (which is quite rare as most of the time I am out and about) I open the French windows and it is a joy when children drop in for a chat on their way to play at the adventure playground or on their way to games. This week I tweeted some photos of my lunchtime walk as it summed up the essence of life here for the children at St. Peter’s. (@lotjohn) Hard work in lessons, then space and freedom to be children. Year 8 girls were careering around in tracksuit bottoms, ponytails swinging as they zoomed on the zipwire. I love that a traditional prep school gives Year 7 and Year 8 another two years of childhood before the real teenage senior school years take over at 13. I found boys hanging upside down from monkey bars and there were laughing, smiling children all around me affirming that this school is a wonderful place to grow up. This week a group of Year 5 children were invited for ‘Juice and Biscuits’ with the Head. They told me all about their work and gave me a list of things that I should be concentrating on! . One child even brought me a bunch of yellow roses. What beautiful manners! Pupils here enjoy beach school and forest school and have extensive grounds to explore. Sailing and horseriding are on the Activity lists on Fridays as well as buddy reading for the older pupils with the younger ones.
I will be attending the IAPS Head’s conference on Monday and Tuesday of next week in London and look forward to meeting and chatting with other prep school Heads then.
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