Well, another week has flown by, and what a busy one it has been! School life is now firmly in full swing, with routines well established and pupils settled into their learning. It is hard to believe that we are only in Week 3 of the academic year. Our new Year 3 pupils, in particular, have made a fantastic start and have settled remarkably quickly into life at Whitehill.
The main topic of conversation around school this week has undoubtedly been the Junior Leadership Team (JLT) Hustings, but more on that shortly!
We began the week with our annual pupil photographs. The process ran like a well-oiled machine, and the children were exemplary throughout. I also had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jessica and Charlotte from year 4, who came armed with no fewer than 30 questions! I am not sure I have faced such a thorough grilling since my interview for this role back in March. They certainly left no stone unturned.
Across the school, classrooms have been buzzing as we moved fully into our regular timetables. In Year 3, Aztec Class enjoyed a drumming session, and the rest of the school certainly knew about it as the sound travelled far and wide! Meanwhile, Mayan Class made their first trip to the swimming pool and, by all accounts, had a wonderful time.
Year 4 pupils have also been busy. Kusama Class were learning their five times tables through song, enthusiastically singing their way to mathematical mastery, while Everest Class created some fantastic lion illustrations inspired by the work of author and illustrator Ed Vere (How to be a Lion).
In Year 5, Apollo Class enjoyed an engaging practical and magical(!) science demonstration on forces delivered by Mrs Bailey, while Voyager Class brought history to life by re-enacting the Battle of Hastings and reflecting on some of King Harold’s less successful decisions!
Year 6 have continued their work on Shackleton’s incredible life and Antarctic expedition with a geographical, historical and literacy focus. They have also been developing their understanding of place value and mathematical symbols as they continue their journey towards SATs. Across the school, a huge range of activities and teaching approaches have been on display, all characterised by excellent engagement and enthusiasm from our pupils.
On Thursday, we hosted the Junior Leadership Team Hustings, a day that many staff look forward to each year, and I can certainly see why. All 15 applicants were outstanding ambassadors both for Year 6 and for Whitehill. They presented confidently to the entire school before facing questions from each class. Following this, our Chair of Governors, Mrs Dorrell, and I interviewed groups of candidates and were genuinely impressed by the maturity, thoughtfulness and care shown in their responses. It was evident how much they value both the role of JLT member and our wider school community.
During today’s Achievement Assembly, pupils learned the outcome of the Junior Leadership Team election. I am delighted to congratulate Charlotte, Ambar, Memphis, Sonny and Daisy, who have been elected to serve as members of the 2026/27 Junior Leadership Team.
Thank you to every pupil who put themselves forward. The courage, confidence and enthusiasm shown by all 15 candidates made this a truly memorable Whitehill moment.
Today we also said goodbye to Mrs Stokes as she begins her well-deserved retirement after 33 years of dedicated service at Whitehill. During that time, she has served wonderful meals to generations of Whitehill pupils. By my calculations, that amounts to well over 900,000 meals! Mrs Stokes will be greatly missed, and we thank her for everything she has done for our school community. We wish her every happiness in her retirement.
This afternoon, our Year 3 classrooms were opened to parents and carers for the final part of the day. It was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to showcase their work; share their learning environment and demonstrate just how confidently they have settled into Team Whitehill. A big thank you to the Year 3 team for organising such a successful event.
Finally, it looks as though we may be treated to an Indian summer next week, which seems rather fitting for this unusual “weather” year just as autumn begins to arrive! I hope everyone enjoys a restful weekend, and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday.
Have a wonderful weekend.
