The final week of term has enabled us to come together as a community to celebrate the season of Christmas. The atmospheric and beautiful Carol Service in Christ Church gave us the opportunity to pause, reflect and rejoice in music and prayer; Christmas lunches enabled everyone to celebrate by sharing food and laughter; our final assembly today highlighted the true Christmas Story with its message of redeeming love. There was also the annual entertainment of the staff ‘Christmas turn’ – this year a spin-off from ‘Strictly’ (with apologies to the Upper Prep production….).

As the world around us continues to change, I hope that you are all able to anchor yourselves and your families during the holidays – taking time with family and friends to reconnect and share simple pleasures, to remember what really matters and to look out into the wider world as we each recognise our common humanity.

I leave you with this Christmas Blessing, and look forward to welcoming you back in 2020: