This half-term, we publish the Court Report, our annual statement, which covers the various successes of last year, and includes my commentary on the times ahead. You can see the website copy here, a really colourful celebration of Claires Court in action. As I make clear, we remain acutely aware of the financial challenges placed on families due to the addition of 20% VAT, and are doing our level best to keep core charges down. However, our catering prices are set to rise, so we can continue to provide high-quality offerings, and a separate communication outlining the changes will come out over the holiday half-term.

Schools win permission to appeal government’s VAT policy

The High Court previously acknowledged that the policy would disproportionately affect families in the bottom half of the income distribution, with 3,000 pupils expected to be displaced immediately. Despite this, the Court declined to intervene, citing Parliament’s broad discretion in matters of taxation. However, the Court of Appeal’s decision recognises the serious human rights implications of the policy, including potential violations of Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination) and Protocol 1, Article 2 (right to education) under the European Convention on Human Rights.

Our recent visit by the Independent Schools Inspectorate was most encouraging too; and we look forward to receiving the report and sharing its contents, expected in the 2nd week after half-term. Good news is always nice to receive, of course; we are very aware, though, that it is in the future that we plan our daily work, to give all of our children, whatever their strengths and differences, the skills and opportunities that will nurture the very best longer-term outcomes for their successful development. Nurture is one of the key values within education, is always spoken of within the Early Years Framework for nurseries and Reception, but seems to be quickly forgotten by so many, including Secretaries of State for Education. Nurture is a core principle in education, parenting, and personal development to emphasise the importance of caring, emotional support, commitment and providing a safe environment for growth.

To that end, and reflecting on the PTA Fireworks event on Saturday night (and the risk assessment we make every year to cover exploding mortar bombs in the air!), it provided a great opportunity for our school community to meet and enjoy a convivial evening of activity and conversation. With over 1000 present, what with ticket sales and footfall to the bar, ice cream van, pizza trailer and stalls, it provided both wonderful entertainment and a useful surplus to the PTA Foundation funds. Those in turn provide many valuable extras for the children and the school’s activities, for example, for the Flexitent providing cover for our stall as well as for other PTA events, and the next one arrives to benefit Forest school after half-term.

I appreciate that the most important recognition of the school’s suitability for our future pupils is the word-of-mouth recommendation of our current and previous families. It seems that the 2 major talks run this term, online with Marilyn Adams (video here, well worth watching) on the active parenting needed to safeguard children from the online harms of the internet and in person by Olympian 400m runner, Mark Richardson, to a good audience of parents and sports students. Mark spoke compellingly on his clear ambition to become the best in the world, and belatedly this Summer, he and Iwan Thomas, Roger Black & Jamie Baulch received their Gold medals for their victory in the World Championships in 1997, the original winners (USA) being subsequently disqualified because of the use of performance-enhancing drugs. You can see the final here, with Mark Richardson running the anchor leg and posting the fastest time he has ever run, 43.5 seconds.

During his talk, Mark was asked whether he was disappointed to receive his Gold medal 28 years late. His answer was a huge surprise: “Certainly not, as my daughters had only ever known their dad as once being an athlete a long time ago. For them to be present whilst we took the podium was an enormous satisfaction, bringing my past life into the present. And anyway, I got to keep the Silver medal too!”

Mark is one of those many ‘Diamonds’ who have enjoyed their education here at Claires Court. Whilst he did well at school and then Loughborough University, he recognises now he has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning. Sport, in general, and Athletics, in particular, provided Mark with the discipline and excitement to help him focus. We now know that arises from the dopamine release, providing the reward for focusing so well, and it’s why we continue to include so much sport in our curriculum.

Dopamine is not the only hormone valued by education (and amongst adolescents, that’s just as well). The ISI inspectors noted just how calm the school is during the working day. We know that is due to class size, teaching quality, the children’s willingness to learn, a really well-balanced curriculum and the great relationships that are engendered. If we get that right, then those companion hormones come out to play as well, endorphins (which reduce pain and stress), serotonin (which stabilises mood), and oxytocin (associated with social bonding), which contribute to feelings of excitement and happiness. When schools get this right, then we lay down the conditions to find Diamonds, as most parents know, their children are really precious to them, not far away in the sky, but gems in their own homes, whose talents and facets of personality just need bringing out.

So, let’s all look forward to ‘Sparkling’ – it’s half-term ahead. Enjoy!