Happy New Year! It was a pleasure to welcome our Upper School pupils back to school this week and see them so enthusiastic and ready for the term ahead, which I know is going to be another busy and exciting one indeed. Thursday was a perfect example of how we like to hit the ground running! We were so fortunate to be able to host three of Hertfordshire’s Deputy Lieutenants, Marion Brown MBE JP DL, Suzy Harvey DL and Janie Wentworth-Stanley DL into Edge Grove to discuss with the children the Queen's various roles, the Commonwealth and its benefits for us, as well as how this links to the British Values which we regularly celebrate and promote in school on a daily basis. Our Upper School pupils participated in a brilliant debate, responding to questions including: ● What is the relevance of the Monarchy in modern day society? ● To what extent does the Queen promote British Values? ● What are some of the benefits and responsibilities of being a British Citizen? In form discussions, we will definitely be returning to the issues raised in the shared debate. I would also like to congratulate Riley who, amongst his busy revision schedule for the upcoming exams, managed to arrange to sing once again for the residents of the Sunrise of Westbourne senior living home in Dorset on Monday 30th December. Riley performed a number of songs as well as some Christmas songs to which the residents happily sang along. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed his performance and many of the residents, who are sadly suffering from dementia, remembered Riley's first performance there at Easter. It really shows how music helps to improve well being and memory in these circumstances.