There has been lots in the press in the past couple of weeks about the importance of not viewing STEM subjects in isolation. We have long been advocates of cross-curricular work at school as we know that schools are quite unusual in their desire to box knowledge and skills in ‘subjects’. The world of work does not fit with a rigid school model. 

With our fantastic STEAM week still at the back of my mind, I was delighted to see more evidence of the girls making links between their subjects at the Junior art exhibition last week, with its distinctly mathematical flavour. I loved the mixture of identifying the mathematical beauty that we see in nature with the precision of translating a creative interpretation of architecture into a precise 3D model of a house. It was obvious that the girls derived huge enjoyment from the projects and I am very grateful to their teachers for their innovative ideas and support of the girls.

At Senior School, we were delighted to welcome Year 4 for their very first taste of Senior School life. Chatting to the girls, I am not sure which they enjoyed more: the picnic lunch and breaktime cookies or the exciting lesson activities. Our penultimate Trips Day of the year saw girls involved in activities as diverse as Year 7 learning about kissing prairie dogs, Year 9 walking and camping for their Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Sixth Form on a cultural trail in London. Again, a really fabulous array of opportunities to extend what the girls have been learning beyond the classroom.

As we move towards half term, I wish you a restful week and for the girls preparing for exams, I hope all is calm and well organised. We have a great deal to look forward to in the second half of term from sports days to concerts and awards events.