This week started with a Huddle all about one of my favourite qualities: curiosity. Many of you will remember from a Friday Comms last year, my love of all things Ted Lasso. If you are new to the school this year and have never had the privilege, please watch it; it has powerful messages like “Be curious, not judgmental”.

This year, you may have noticed the new sign inside the entrance to the McConnell Building which reads, ‘Be Curious: Ask Questions. Explore Deeply. Understand Fully.’ Developing curiosity in children is so important, as the new sign also reads, ‘Learning begins with curiosity and grows through understanding.’

In the Huddle, I showed the children ten extreme close-up photos taken around the school, and their job was to identify them. I was amazed at just how highly they scored. It showed that they really do notice; they observe, they are constantly learning. I explained how this is a natural skill at a young age but, as we grow up, we lose it. I encouraged them to keep exploring the world around them, keep noticing and, if they notice something they do not fully understand, be curious. I hope you all have weekends full of even more questions than normal, as a result!

Last night, it was the turn of our Year 7 & 8 pupils in the second Resilience Camp Out of the year. I am a firm believer that these senior years in a Prep School are the most impactful and significant in a child’s educational journey, and sitting around the fire pit with them last night confirmed this. The maturity, confidence and self-awareness they displayed, alongside kindness, humour and genuine support for one another, was a powerful reminder of how much they develop in this environment. I am so proud of them and so grateful for the incredible staff who nurture these qualities. Thank you to Mr Barnett, Mrs Gould and Mr Franklin especially, who stayed with them last night and camped out on the school fields as well. I say it a lot, but the staff here are genuinely incredible. I class myself as extremely lucky to have such a devoted team and your children are incredibly lucky to have some of the best role models around!

Today, they then headed out for a self-planned and self-led (but staff-supervised) hike, and I cannot wait to hear about it when they return.

I am also pleased to announce the return of the Prep Diary for Year 3-8 pupils. There is a very simple reason for this: technology is wonderful, and I think Satchel One is an excellent resource that we will keep using. However, in my opinion, there is little that can replace a physical notebook for children. Jotting down important things each day, having somewhere to store login details and having a shared space for parent, pupil and teacher communication has always been something I value and something I felt we missed last year.

The children will receive their Prep Diaries on Monday, and I hope they too will enjoy the benefits of them. They are a very simple version this year which may develop again in time.

To further help with communication, a number of parents recently asked me about staff contact details and where to find them, so we have created a new page on the website for Pennthorpe families, which can be found here. This includes all staff names, roles and email addresses, which I hope you will find helpful.

I am sad to announce that Lauren Manvell will be leaving Pennthorpe at the end of the Autumn Term. Having been here as a pupil, Lauren returned to work at Pennthorpe in 2005, first as a part-time member of the Games Department before becoming a 1:1, Year 4-6 English Teacher, Year 5 Form Tutor and Year 1-8 Drama Teacher. Lauren then left the school for five years, before returning again as Matron, then Events & Logistics Coordinator, Head’s PA, Recruitment Coordinator, EVC and Head of Baynards House! All three of Lauren’s children also came through Pennthorpe, so she really is a true Pennthorpian!

In my time as Head of School, I have gained a much better insight into just how many plates Lauren spins and how she truly is part of every single aspect of this school. I would like to personally thank her for her support over the last nine months and for everything she has done for our school over the last 21 (!) years. It will genuinely be incredibly difficult to replace her.

Next week, I will be attending the IAPS Heads’ Conference in Birmingham from Wednesday to Friday. The conference brings together Heads from leading independent prep schools across the country to share best practice, explore latest developments, and discuss opportunities and challenges for schools. I hope it will provide valuable insight and lead to fresh ideas and innovative approaches coming back to Pennthorpe.

In my absence, Mrs Gould will deputise for me, so please do reach out to her with anything you need; we will be in contact each day I am away.
Finally, after much persuasion, incentivisation and encouragement from staff and children, I will be completing the Run Barns Green Half Marathon on Sunday 27th September. Pennthorpe will also be sponsoring the event, so we will have a gazebo on the green at the finish line and a total of 12 staff either running or supporting with marketing on the day.

If you are around next Sunday and fancy a morning out, all support will be very much appreciated! Pennthorpe colours, maybe the odd homemade sign and a few supportive shouts around the course would make a massive difference to all of us running, so I hope you are able to make it!
As always, thanks for your continued support, thanks for another great week and thanks for a really positive start to the year!

Have a great weekend, and see you all on Monday.

Mr Marler