News from Head of Prep

I am often asked what I am most proud of at our school and my answer will consistently be the girls. My Prep girls astound me on a daily basis with their quiet ambition, inner confidence and supreme love of learning. Their curiosity knows no bounds, whether that be with our Kindergarten girls immersing themselves in a particular phonics sound or our Year Six exploring French culture on a residential trip. Our EHS values are interwoven into every aspect of our daily school life and I truly believe they are the secret ingredient which makes our girls so special.

This week, the Tudor fact files produced by Year Four are testament to the high expectations not only of the staff, but of the girls themselves. We encourage the girls to develop independence and risk-taking and to set themselves high standards. For some, it takes a little more time...but the sweet spot is the moment when a child independently challenges themselves. The moment when they no longer need a tutor or a parent or a teacher to say to them - is that the best you can do? Self-reflection is such a useful skill for life and one that we hope we equip our girls with. Girls do not like to fail, they do not like to get things wrong and, as parents, we want to protect our children from failure. But learning to fail is so important, because the ability to bounce back up and reset is a skill which will stand the girls in good stead for life.

Nevertheless, celebrating success is always so very important. So, I was delighted when Jessie (Year Six pupil) shared with me the trophy she had won at the Northfield Festival of Music. Jessie only started playing the piano a few years ago and, through hard work and determination, is now at Grade 8 level. This is an incredible achievement and testament to her diligence and passion. Jessie is modest about her success, but such an inspiration to our younger girls and I cannot wait to see what she achieves in the coming years.

As we approach the half term break, I hope the girls will take time to reflect on the past term. There is not long remaining within their current year groups, but they still have an opportunity to reach for the stars and I would encourage them to do so. In turn, we will support and guide, challenge and celebrate and encourage in equal measure.

In the meantime, enjoy the Bank Holiday Sunshine!

Mrs N Hobson

Head of Preparatory School