I do hope you all had a restful and refreshing half term. It’s been a real pleasure to welcome everyone back to school this week, and an especially warm welcome to the new families who have joined our Duncombe community—we’re delighted to have you with us.

 

What a wonderful start to the second half of the term it has been. Pupils have returned with enthusiasm and energy, and it’s been a joy to see them so engaged in their learning. This week, we were thrilled to welcome Year 1 and Year 3 families to our Open Classroom events. The children

were incredibly proud to showcase their work, and it was heartening to see the joy and curiosity shared between pupils and their families.

 

Year 1 also enjoyed a fantastic educational visit to Woburn, where they represented Duncombe beautifully. The children were fully immersed in the experience and, as ever, were outstanding ambassadors for the school. Meanwhile, our Year 6 pupils have had a very exciting week as part of their Enrichment Programme. On Wednesday, they enjoyed an adventure-filled day at Legoland, followed by a dynamic water sports experience at Lea Valley on Thursday. Both days were filled with fun, learning, and valuable team-building.

 

We’ve also seen fantastic commitment from our LAMDA pupils in Years 2, 3, and 5 who have been sitting their examinations this week. Their preparation and enthusiasm have been excellent—we’re very proud of them all and look forward to receiving their results later in the year.

 

Looking ahead, next week promises even more to get excited about:

• A focus on Financial Capability across the school

• Lower School Sports Day on Wednesday 11th June in the morning at Duncombe

• Upper School Sports Day on Wednesday 11th June in the afternoon at Woodson Park

• Continued Enrichment activities for Year 6

• A delightful visit to Hertfordshire Zoo for our Nursery and Reception pupils towards the end of the week.

 

And, of course, we are eagerly counting down to The Inaugural Duncombe Festival on Saturday 14th June! If you haven’t yet, please do visit the Parent’s Association website where you’ll find all the details, including how to pre-book and sign up to volunteer on stalls. Huge thanks go to Natalie, Carly, and the amazing PA team for their tireless work in bringing this special event to life. Their dedication to nurturing our vibrant school community is so deeply appreciated.

Wishing you all a relaxing and sunny weekend. Mr Phelan