When I welcomed all of our pupils back last week for my first Chapel, I told them that this has been the most joyful start to an academic year that I have ever experienced, and between you and me, I have experienced quite a few! The intensity of emotion was partly due to the relief and delight of having our school back to near normal and virtually how it was in “the good old pre-pandemic days”.

This feeling of joy has only grown as I have toured the school and been privileged to sit in on a number of lessons and activities. These vividly brought to life the essence of what Queenswood is all about: “To inspire and prepare our pupils to become people who will make a positive impact in the world, in a vibrant and academically challenging atmosphere with a nurturing heart.”

The last eighteen months have been a struggle for all of us. For many within the Queenswood community, as in many parts of society, it has been a time of social isolation. So, to witness the ordinary and the extraordinary interactions between pupils and teachers over the past few days has been a profound experience for me. And one that I believe I will never again take for granted.

The ABC teaching block is a real hub of learning and when I visited a couple of days ago, I was overcome with the energy that I felt. In every single classroom I visited, our girls were focused, energised, challenged and enjoying their time in the lesson. In English, I learnt about Jekyll and Hyde; in A Level Politics I learned about the different types of law and the workings of a constitutional monarchy; in Business Studies it was all about short-term and long-term management and in Dance I was treated to an incredible display where the students developed a short piece of their own choreography. And all this is just the tip of the wealth of learning going on here every day.

I am so, so proud of all our teachers at Queenswood. And I am so, so proud of all our students.

I must say that returning to our amazing spread of hot and cold lunch options has certainly helped lift the spirits, but what really has become apparent is that the Queenswood community needs to be together to truly thrive and we have missed this, but boy are we making the most of it now.

We are all so pleased to be back and looking forward to a wonderful year ahead of us.