HEAD’S UPDATE Week beginning 10th June 2024
A message from the Head
This week has been Prep School exam week, and I have been very impressed with the way the children have approached their assessments. Exams can be quite a stressful situation for children, which is why it is so important for them to become familiar with an examination routine. I do not see this as adding pressure, I see it as a brilliant opportunity to prepare them. Although I have been teaching in the prep sector for 13 years, the majority of my teaching career has been in senior schools. I have spent many years preparing children for GCSE and A Level examinations, and I know the challenges these can present.
At Mowden, we work towards Common Entrance examinations (our Year 8 children receive their results on Friday). Our children have been preparing for these throughout their Mowden journey, and I know they are now so well placed to face both GCSE and A level examinations in a few years. I know this not only through first hand experience of teaching children in senior schools (those who have done CE have a significant advantage), and also through feedback from Old Mowdenians; with some still using the revision techniques they learnt at Mowden. Some have even continued to use their revision notes from Mowden! I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the prep school children for their superb approach to the examinations, and also wish our Year 8 children the very best for their results.
Earlier in the week, I went to visit Nursery. I was immediately invited to join some of the children who were making a highly impressive structure. The way they interacted with each other, collaborated and decided how their structure would evolve was wonderful. They even let me contribute and participate!
The end of this week sees Sports Days for children in both the Pre-Prep and the Prep; two fabulous events for us all to enjoy. Let’s pray for some sunshine. I look forward to seeing you there.
Boarding
We had a great time at our Summer festival on Saturday - the sun shone and despite it being slightly cooler and a little windy, we managed to enjoy as much time as possible outside with football, facepaints, planes, jewels, music and plenty of dancing and laughter! We were slightly disappointed that the weather hadn’t been good enough for the Slippy Slide on Sunday but in true positive Mowdenian style, we came up with an alternative and had an epic time creating funny challenges on the inflatable in the pool. Taking revenge on Mr Wainwright at the end was a highlight for the swimmers!
The weekend after the exeat will be the last boarding weekend of this year (29th June). We’ll be having water fun on Park Field with the slippy slide, water pistols and the hose on Saturday evening followed by a trip to the beach on Sunday.
Please speak with your child(ren) about this and look out for the email which will be sent next week to book them a place.
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