Head's blog - July 2024

After an extremely busy week of meetings preparing for the start of the new year, I was delighted to relax and enjoy some of our incredible range of end of term events. On Monday, I went along to Blackheath’s own Taylor Swift ‘Eras Tour’ concert to see what all the ‘Tay Tay’ fuss is about - and it didn’t disappoint! Girls encouraging each other to get up on stage, some clearly less confident than others, supporting their peers, singing beautifully (along with the audience) and you could clearly see the strength of relationship between the girls and their music teachers. It was so joyful to watch. Even at the end of a long day when your energy levels are starting to run low, our girls bring it right back – this is why I believe teachers have the best job in the world. Underlining this and all that our great teachers and school achieve, I am delighted to say that we have been shortlisted for Independent Girls’ School of the Year 2024 – and I couldn’t be prouder!   

I must take a moment to thank our wonderful staff for their energy, enthusiasm, and readiness to go the extra mile for our girls, across an unbelievably packed term and year. Just this term, we have seen a mock election (Liberal Democrats prevailed), our annual joyous Sixth Form Ball, ‘Heavy Weather’ (the KS3 Summer play), the new Junior careers fair, awe-inspiring trips, Junior financial workshops, a talk from Alumna & Oxford Theology student Rachel, and of course Year 6 celebrations as they prepare to move into Seniors.  

All this has been happening, of course, over the most important time of the year for our GCSE and A-level students, a time in which the girls have given their all and maintained a mature and level-headed approach to the stresses of exam season. Our many fun clubs and events – such as singing before exams in the morning, performing in an uplifting Summer Concert and throwing a wet sponge at our teachers – serve as a crucial outlet amid a lot of hard work. 

I really do hope our students take the time to rest and reset over the break. I would strongly encourage them to get out into nature and enjoy the outdoors, to read, to exercise and to look after themselves; ready for another year full of many opportunities, as this last year has been. 

Have a wonderful summer! 

Mrs Natalie Argile 
Head