Now that we have been back at school for a couple of weeks, the Leighton Park community has begun to settle back intoi the familiar routines of life on the Park. It has been a very purposeful and enjoyable start to the school year. For the first time this year I am experiencing life as a Leighton Park parent. What an interesting and valuable perspective! I have been thrilled to see how the new Year 7 students have embraced life. I was on the Thames with them dragon boating and raft building last Friday. The development of new friendships and familiarity was an important feature of the day, but so too was the learning opportunity which such activities presented to work together to accomplish a goal. During this week, the aspiring thespians in the school auditioned for parts in the next production, "Our Country's Good". The excitement of pulling that team together has been a lovely experience for the drama department, and this was expressed movingly in the meeting for worship which we held on Thursday. Another team which is finding real strength and purpose is the teaching staff. They have risen to the challenge of raising expectations superbly. I have been delighted with the togetherness shown by staff, and their willingness to share best practice for the development of the education we provide for our children here. There has been hard work from teachers and children alike, but there is always a smile on our face - no more so than at the Friday morning Collect at which it was announced that the sport of Quidditch will begin recruiting during the coming term. (Yes - really!). There has been a super start, and there is so much to look forward to. The school continues to live adventurously in everything, and have enormous fun, too.

I write as new students wend their way through the traffic towards Reading, Shinfield Road, and a new future at Leighton Park School. Over 100 new families will become part of our community this afternoon, and the warm embrace of Leighton Park is ready to receive them. Since Wednesday, Leighton Park staff have been preparing for the new term with INSET days and meetings, making sure that timetables, options, house lists and activity sheets are ready to ease the transition of newcomers into the community. There is a sense today that we are ready for action. There are smiles on teachers' faces, the members of the PTA are here to add that reassuring voice of experience to brand new parents, and we are hugely looking forward to meeting our new pupils. School years have a rhythm and, just as when one listens to a favourite piece of music, the crescendo takes hold and raises the anticipation of excitement to come. This will be an exciting term. Teachers have spent time planning our exciting new curriculum, based on the Quaker values we hold so dear. I have spoken many times of the spirit of adventure at the heart of a Quaker education, and the importance of freeing our students to discover their strengths, while courageously addressing their areas of difficulty. Being supportive of our students, teachers here are encouraged to challenge students to take risks, and occasionally to face obstacles, within the secure knowledge of having staff as partners in their learning. After all, living adventurously is about pushing oneself to the limit. Letting your life speak demands that we let it say something special and out of the ordinary, so that others pay attention. Answering that of God in everyone requires us to understand that of God in ourselves. With these areas of focus, the curriculum will challenge and excite children in the classroom and beyond; it will give them the stage on which to play out extraordinary lives, and will promote self awareness, and spirituality which will develop a strong moral compass and compassion for others. Much of this depends on teachers who understand their roles and responsibilities, and who seek to set the highest standards for their staff. This is what we have been considering as a whole staff during the past few days, and I sense a group of colleagues who have faith in their school and one another, and who cannot wait to get started. How exciting!