Message from our Head of Secondary - June

I feel so privileged to be part of our very special TBSW community and I also am extremely proud of what has been achieved this year.

Much of our learning over the past two years has been defined by the restraints put upon us by the pandemic. It has been so encouraging and gratifying to have been able to move our learning beyond this in the latter part of the year.

We were so pleased that our IB and IGCSE students were able to sit their examinations this term in person. Along with parents and students, we eagerly await the release of the IB results on 6 July and the IGCSE results in August.

The graduation event in May for our IB students was a lovely occasion that concluded our year 13 students’ formal secondary education. The students looked so mature, proud and ready for the next stages of their lives. I wish all our year 13 students every success, and I look forward to hearing about where their futures take them.

This term, we were delighted to be able to hold end-of-year examinations for all students in years 7, 8, 9 ,10 and 12. Examination halls and formal assessments can be daunting; we are so glad that our students are now more familiar with how the examination experience looks and feels, and that consequently they are better prepared for their IGCSE and IB examinations in the future.

Outside of the classroom, we were delighted that students were once again able to perform in teatime and pop-up concerts as well as sports fixtures. We were also very pleased that we were able to hold our annual TBSW Model United Nations conference. The recent Green Camps were a wonderful experience for all the students who took part. I am so pleased that these trips were able to go ahead and know that they will be remembered by our students long into adulthood.

Today, we concluded the academic year with a celebration assembly. In the assembly, we congratulated all students for their efforts, determination, resilience and creativity that have supported their learning this year. We also recognised students’ exceptional efforts and achievements in each subject area; in addition, outstanding service to the community prizes were awarded by Heads of Year. My congratulations to all recipients of awards.

None of what we do would be possible without our wonderful teaching, support, and administrative staff. I am so grateful to TBSW colleagues for all that they do to ensure that our students are happy and successful in their learning. I would like to particularly thank our departing staff -Alex Hands, Nicholas Bentley, Rob Prokic, Charlotte Parker McMahon, Ayunita Agustina, Harry Parker and Nekane Oteiza Ugarte- for all their contributions to the School, and I wish them happiness and success in their future adventures. I would also like to make special mention of, and sincerely thank, Edyta Miazga, our Secondary Secretary, who will be leaving TBSW in August to take on exciting challenges at a new school. Edyta has been a constant source of support to all members of the School and she will be very much missed.

As we celebrate and conclude the end of this academic year, we also look forward to the next. The lifting of Covid-19 restrictions means that we have been able to start planning for the wonderful range of trips that are such an excellent part of Nord Anglia Education. We will be in touch at the start of next term with detailed information about each trip. In the meantime, to make sure that you are aware of the timing of trips your children may be interested in, the dates are as follows:

7-14 October 2022 - Summer trekking expedition, Les Martinets, Switzerland. Open to students in year 8 and above.

12-19 November 2022 - Rift Valley expedition, Tanzania (formally known as the Lake Natron expedition). Open to year 12 students.

14-20 January 2023 - Snowsports expedition, Les Martinets, Switzerland. Open to students from years 8, 9, 10 and 12.

24-31 January 2023 - Seeway expedition, Tanzania. Open to students in year 10.

21 February to 4 March 2023 - Kilimanjaro expedition. Open to students aged 14 and over.

I would like to wish all members of our TBSW community a very relaxing summer break. I look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday 30 August.

Best wishes

Anna Fournier

HEAD OF SECONDARY