As the Autumn Term draws to a close I want take this opportunity to send you my very best wishes.

I know the term hasn’t ended in quite the way we had hoped. As a result of staff sickness owing to Covid, a number of areas of school have been affected, including teaching, transport, boarding and housekeeping. With cases on the increase – not just in the school community but across the nation – we have regrettably had to cancel or postpone many of our traditional seasonal activities. We are all deeply disappointed, and my thoughts are with you all – particularly those boarders who will be required to isolate here at Queenswood beyond the end of term. I'd like to thank everyone for their kind messages of support through this time.

However, despite the necessary Covid restrictions we’ve introduced, all in all it has been a fantastic term full of outstanding achievement and activity. It was so uplifting to see the return of competitive sport, residential bonding trips, theatre visits, music concerts, visiting lecturers, in-person Chapel services, inter-House competitions and the many other enriching experiences we were denied last year.

I wish you all a safe, healthy and restful Christmas, and I look forward to seeing you all again in the new year.