5 September 2025

Dear Parents

It has been an exciting and joyful first week back across the school. We have enjoyed first days of school in Reception, punting in Oxford with Year 12, adventures at 'Wet n Wild' with Year 7, pre-season football and hockey training, the launch of our forthcoming Senior School production of Oliver (coming to a theatre near you in February), catching up with friends, first lessons with new teachers and new subjects and so much more besides! 

On Thursday evening it was wonderful to see so many parents in school for our Senior and Sixth Form Welcome Evening, and we are looking forward to the Junior Welcome evening next Tuesday! I hope to see lots of you there. 

At the start of the new school year it is a wonderful time to reflect on our hopes and aspirations for the year ahead, and in assemblies this week we have talked together about our school values and the aims that bind us together as a community here at Cranford, most importantly the centrality of generosity of spirit, kindness and happiness in daily life at school! 

Summer Adventures
Over the summer an intrepid group of Senior students took on an exciting World Challenge expedition to Malaysia - a trip that combined cultural exploration, leadership, teamwork and incredibly challenging adventure. We are very proud of our World Challenge team and we are looking forward to hearing more about their adventures in assembly later this month. In the interim, please do have a look at some of the photographs from their expedition! We are looking forward to launching our next adventure to Guatemala in 2027, and parents of students in Years 10 to 12 are invited to join a presentation and coffee morning on Tuesday 30 September (8:30am) if you want to learn more! 

October Sports Tour 
The PE department are already looking forward with anticipation to the October half term Senior School Spain Sports Tour, I wanted to give early notice of the pre-departure meeting, taking place for parents on 26 September at 8:15am.

Senior Prize Giving – 18 September
We are delighted to be approaching our annual Senior Prize Giving ceremony, taking place at The Sheldonian Theatre on Thursday 18 September at 7pm. This very special occasion honours the outstanding achievements of our Year 11 and 13 pupils over the past academic year, while also recognising the dedication and accomplishments of pupils throughout Senior School. We look forward to celebrating this evening with our school community in such a historic and inspiring setting. 

If you haven’t already done so, please click here to give your child permission to travel to the Sheldonian and to confirm collection arrangements. Details of the event can be found in this letter, that was sent to parents before the summer break. 

Welcome to new staff
As well as welcoming many new faces among our pupils, we are also delighted to introduce several new members of staff who have joined Cranford School this term.

We warmly welcome Miss Gibson, who joins the English Department from Wallingford School, and Mrs Larkwood, who comes to us from Culford School in Suffolk.

In the Mathematics Department, we are pleased to welcome Mrs Heveron from Downe House, alongside Mr Sparrow, who joins us from Moulsford Prep and will also be supporting the PE Department.

The Humanities Department is joined by Miss Dickson, previously at Thorngrove School, while Mr Dickinson has relocated from Kent, having taught at Sevenoaks School, and is now part of our Science Department. Finally, we are delighted to welcome Mrs Morel to the Business Studies and Computer Science Department, joining us from Langtree School.

We are thrilled to have them all on board and look forward to the energy, expertise, and fresh perspectives they bring to our school community.

With best wishes 

James Raymond

Head