I do hope that you have enjoyed a happy and a restful Christmas break and a smooth start to the New Year. It has been wonderful to welcome back the children, plus some pupils who have joined St Faith’s in January, and everyone has settled quickly into the rhythm of the new Lent term. As well as welcoming the pupils, we have been pleased to welcome two new members of staff : Mrs Hannah Fox has joined St Faith’s as our new Bursar and Mrs Sarah Pritchard as the new Head of Science.

In assembly this week, we considered the concept of time, and how we plan to use the precious days, hours and minutes that 2025 affords us. We thought about the consequences of our actions by recalling stories and films about time travel. We also reflected on the comforts that can be associated with a routine, like coming to school each day, but we also thought about ways that we can make each day feel different and special.

Last House Standing

In a different version of time travel – returning briefly to the end of 2024, the enormously popular ‘Last House Standing’ marked the culmination of the Michaelmas term. We thought that you would enjoy seeing a selection of the wonderful photos from the event. We hope that you enjoy them.

Christmas Clubs

After the end of term in December, our school remained open for the many holiday clubs that ran before Christmas. I am enormously grateful to the dedicated staff who offer these clubs, thereby supporting our pupils and their families. The Multi-Activity Course, STEM Camp, Art and Christmas Craft and Art and Drama workshops all took place, and the pupils attending these various courses and workshops were clearly enjoying the opportunity to explore new skills. We can already look ahead to many of these activities being available during the Easter holidays. In addition, we expect to offer the ever-popular St Faith’s Cookery School once again, and Little Wyverns for the Pre Prep children. Before that, during the February half-term, we will be offering Bikeability courses in support of our sustainability initiatives. We encourage and support members of the school community to cycle to school whenever possible, and it is pleasing to see our pupils continuing to be safe and careful during the dark months of winter, with their high visibility cycling accessories and bike lights.

Update on Makukhanye School

Following a very successful school visit in 2024 to our partner school in South Africa, Makukhanye School, we have already begun planning for the next one, scheduled to take place in 2026. This will offer an unparalleled opportunity for our travelling pupils and staff to see first-hand the work at our partner school, made possible and financed in part by the fund-raising in which our pupils are involved in each year. Earlier this week, Mr Johnson received an update from staff at Makukhanye to say that the works earmarked during our last visit have now been completed. One of the next projects at Makukhanye School, that once again we hope to be able to support, is the development of an apprenticeship programme for teaching welding and electrician skills, plumbing and carpentry. This will enable Makukhanye School pupils to have new opportunities to learn employable practical skills relevant to their community.

And Finally – 150th Anniversary of The Leys School

Reflecting upon the history The Leys and St Faith’s Foundation, 2025 marks the sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary of The Leys School. Throughout the calendar year there will be a number of special events to mark and celebrate this special 150th anniversary year, and we look forward to sharing news of these with you as term progresses.

With all best wishes,

Crispin Hyde-Dunn