25 April 2025

Dear Parents

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter break - it was certainly a treat to see so much blue sky. It has been a busy first week back. The start of a new term is always exciting and this term there was a particularly special buzz around the building as everyone returned to share stories from their Easter adventures! 

The Summer Term is packed with wonderful events, and I look forward to welcoming families into school to celebrate a series of brilliant occasions, from Sports Days and Tea Concerts to Coffee Mornings, Parents’ Evenings and so much more besides! We are particularly excited this term to be taking the whole school back to the Hexagon Theatre in Reading on 1 July for an end of year musical extravaganza. This is a wonderful way to celebrate the year in school in a special venue and to enjoy the musical talents of pupils across all year groups. I really hope you'll be able to come and join us for this event - it makes the end of year celebration all the more special when parents and extended families are able to join us. We will be writing again in more depth about this event next week but in the meantime I just wanted to share a 'save the date' notice. 

Year 13 and Year 11 have enjoyed a busy Easter break full of revision and preparation for their examinations this summer. We have all been incredibly impressed by their maturity as they tackled Easter revision sessions and they have come back with great determination and composure. I know you will all join me in wising them every success this Summer and we'll look forward to sharing their celebration events with you over the next two weeks.

Many thanks to the parents who were able to join us last night for the PTA AGM. The meeting was an opportunity to say thank you to Mrs Pink and Mrs Lanyon who step down as Co-Chairs. We are all so grateful for everything they have done to fundraise and support the school over the last few years and we are very lucky as a school to enjoy such an active PTA and parent body. I am delighted to welcome Mrs Pritchard and Mrs Bones into their new roles as PTA Co-Chairs- a huge thank you to everyone involved in the PTA and who supports the school as a form rep. 

This morning in Junior Assembly, we celebrated our Founders’ Day. Cranford was founded in April 1931 and it always particularly poignant to reflect on values and the core ethos that have run through the school so consistently across such a long period of time. In assembly this morning we talked about our first pupil, Billy Higgs, and the power of happiness, kindness and how this translates into everyday leadership. On her retirement from Cranford, Miss Laurence, the school's founder, wrote in leaving message that "behind the history of Cranford lies an intangible atmosphere, based on a deep concern for people and the belief that everyone has a contribution to make to the world they live in." This still forms the foundation for Cranford School today.

A glorious afternoon which saw the sunshine on the Cranford Juniors as they ran the London mini marathon in the aid of SSNAP (Supporting Sick Newborn and Parents).  The courageous runners were inspired by Ivy in Reception who has been fund raising for SSNAP.  During the run we hit the £1000 target and with more to come! Please check out the photos from this wonderful event!

Well done to everyone who took part, the effort and determination demonstrated by all was admirable and a thank you to all who have sponsored our sterling runners and supported such an important charity.

We hope you enjoy seeing some of the pictures from this week. 

Have a lovely weekend.

Best wishes 
Dr James Raymond
Head