81 JANUARY 2024 3 JULY 2023 DECEMBER 2025 Message from the Headmaster This week has been exceptionally busy across our school community, with pupils engaged in a wide range of meaningful activities. Our Year 7 pupils wrote Christmas messages to residents of Lime Grove Care Home who also enjoyed a performance of Christmas carols by our Chamber Choir. It was an outstanding example of young people connecting with older members of our local community. On Wednesday evening, we welcomed families to the Year 9 Options Evening, an important step on the pathway to GCSEs. It was inspiring to see pupils taking the lead in shaping their academic journey and engaging thoughtfully with the choices ahead. Our Year 11 pupils have shown great focus during their English mock exams, and their commitment continues next week with Modern Foreign Languages speaking mock exams. These assessments are a vital part of their preparation, and we are proud of their diligence. I was also fortunate to enjoy lunch with our Year 12 pupils at Effingham Sixth Form. The boys reminisced about their time at Cranmore, concerts, productions, and shared experiences, and explored ways they can return to support younger pupils. Their enthusiasm for giving back is a testament to the strength of our community. Beyond the classroom, it has been rewarding to meet pupils participating in the Renaissance Challenge as they reach its conclusion. Their dedication to exploring interests and expanding intellectual curiosity over the past year has been remarkable. These super-curricular opportunities, which go beyond the curriculum, are highly valued in higher education and the workplace. They demonstrate motivation, independence, and a capacity for advanced study, qualities that will serve them well in the future. Meanwhile, our Christmas Reading Challenge is underway, and it is delightful to see pupils embracing the joy of reading. This aligns with the Times “Get Britain Reading” campaign, supported by leading authors, and reinforces the importance of
reading as a lifelong habit.
Mr Everitt