I am sure that you would agree with me that it has been a good start to the summer term. In fact, I would say that it has been a fantastic start and one with numerous examples of how enriching a place Prince’s Mead is. With the sounds of xylophones sounding across the Itchen Valley during outdoor music lessons this week, pupils have been out and about summiting Farley Mount, whilst classrooms have been humming with energy with pupils learning about 700-million-year-old fossils, chatting about birthdays (in Italian), exploring Royal history through poetry, or hearing about our hugely popular Normandy trip. We have had a lot to pack in.

The weather has enabled a (near) perfect beginning to the return of matches too and what a splendid sight to behold witnessing so many cricket matches taking place across our pitches this week. My thanks to all members of the Sports Department for their leadership and determination in bringing back those competitive fixtures to our calendar, whilst navigating the restrictions that we all still face. Whilst we did experience the odd shower (and even hail), in true Prince’s Mead fashion this did not stop play as the children (and most definitely staff) were not going to give up an opportunity that we have waited so long for, and so continued on for a full afternoon on Wednesday; diving for a ball on the boundary or skidding to take a wicket. We have many more fixtures planned for the term ahead. In the meantime, I just hope you don’t have your work cut out removing those grass stains from cricket whites this weekend!

Mr Peter Thacker