Academic Excellence, Pastoral Care and Enrichment Opportunities
I have been most impressed by the quantity and quality of successes recorded by the girls this term. Despite being engrossed in revision for school and public examinations and, inevitably, distracted by the glorious sunshine and lured away to the outdoor swimming pool, the girls have showcased their talent once more.
Our first year in York has been most enjoyable and I would like to say thank you to everyone for making us so welcome. I count myself very fortunate to have joined such a fantastic school at such an exciting time. But the clock keeps ticking and it will be September before we know it! Next academic year will see the start of a number of new initiatives, not least a complete overhaul of the Plan of Day. The school day will be divided differently, creating what we believe will be a better balance for work, rest and play and enable us to protect what is important in the life of a busy and successful boarding school, whilst allowing us to provide new opportunities and challenges for all the girls.
The ability to study independently is, we believe, one of the absolute must-have skills that girls acquire during their time at QM. The provision of a variety of suitable study times and locations is therefore high on our priority list. From September there will be a second library and a number of new study areas for collaborative and private work. The girls will also benefit from a number of new common rooms and social areas. The ever-popular 'cellars' club will move to a new, much anticipated, venue and provide the girls in the Upper School with an excellent hub for events.
Lots of careful planning has gone into our Enrichment programme to provide girls with a blend of art, dance, drama, music and sport alongside trips, activities and academic societies. We are re-launching our House system with teachers taking on the roles of Heads of Houses, supported by affiliated staff and teams of Prefects and Monitors. Girls have just undergone a rigorous application procedure for positions of responsibility. Letters of application, references, voting and interviews have combined to give a full picture of the skills on offer and I have been most impressed by the girls' dedication to the process, genuine love for their school and many thoughtful ideas, which we will be exploring further in the months ahead. I am in no doubt that there is a large group of future world leaders here at QM!
If you are reading this and have never visited the school, we would like to invite you to come to one of our open days (on 9 October or 13 November) and experience life at QM for yourself. Further information is available from:
enquiries@queenmargarets.com
I would like to sign off by wishing you all a very relaxing summer. We look forward to seeing you again in the autumn as the girls return to aim for excellence in the academic, pastoral and richly varied life of the school.
With best wishes
Paul Silverwood