Headmaster's Weekly Reflection

You will hopefully have seen my separate letter this week about our ISI Inspection report, which is now available on our website. As I wrote back in January, I firmly believe in the importance of inspections and, further, that they should be rigorous and challenging so that there is a genuine sense of accountability for schools. While that certainly means that the inspection week itself can feel intense, the pay-off is that the inspectors really get to know a school well, and their comments, observations and feedback are both constructive and valid. In that context the report felt like a real validation of all that we do as a school, and I remain very grateful to the inspectors for making the inspection a rigorous yet positive experience. I am also very grateful to the staff, and to the pupils, who welcomed the inspection team so warmly, and who showed such pride in the school that this was something that inspection team commented upon to me in person on several occasions during the course of the week. 

I returned from my overseas trip on Thursday morning, and while by the end of the day the time difference was certainly keen to make itself felt, I found the perfect antidote to this in the Arion House play; the wonderfully-titled 'Snow White and the Seven Ugly Sisters'. Performed to two full audiences on Thursday and Friday evening, the play was a fabulous occasion, with plenty of pantomime booing and 'He's behind you!' moments, and even the opportunity to buy proper theatre ice cream during the interval! Yet for all of the laughter and jollity, it was also very apparent that not only had the girls worked hard to learn their lines and put on a genuinely slick performance, but also that this was one of those moments when Houses really show their sense of community, and foster that sense of belonging which is so important. At various points on the stage we saw girls of all age groups acting together and laughing together, and then celebrating together afterwards. I am sure that as much as the audience enjoyed themselves, for the girls this will be one of the moments they remember happily long after they have left King's. Very well done to all involved. 

Earlier this week I was very pleased to announce to the Arion girls and their parents the appointment of Mrs Griffiths' successor as Housemistress. Claire Ferley will be taking over the reins in September, and she comes to us with a wealth of experience in boarding schools. Currently a Housemistress and Head of Boarding at Wrekin College, Claire previously spent twenty years at Sibford School in Oxfordshire, where she served in many roles including Housemistress and Director of Sport. Claire is married and has a daughter who is about to head off to university, and she is very much looking forward to joining the King's community. The other major staff news to pass on is that Mr Dan Cupit, Deputy Head Academic, has this week been appointed to the role of Senior Deputy Head at Cheltenham College, a post he will take up in September 2026. This is a fine achievement, for there is no doubt that the field of applicants will have been extremely competitive. I feel strongly that the mark of a good school is one in which members of staff leave to take up promotions at other schools, for it shows that we are a school where staff strive to develop, and to improve, and it shows that we are a school that others see as an institution which produces impressive teachers and leaders. And so while we will of course be hugely sad to say goodbye to someone of Dan's calibre and experience, we are also incredibly proud of him and of his achievement. We will begin the search for his successor in due course, and I will of course keep you posted as that progresses. 

Matt Radley

Headmaster