At the bottom of this journal entry, you will see the long list of key dates for the Summer term.
But before you get your diaries out and start writing those emails to line managers requesting time off, please do take a moment to acknowledge the efforts made to hold so many events for the benefit of families and children.
I make no apology for the profuse thanks to those in the School community who volunteer so readily.
Enrichment clubs
My colleagues (and I) work extremely hard to provide enrichment clubs and events across the school and you can see the huge range of events and fixtures taking place - from Athletics, tennis, motorsport and rounders to instrumental showcases, performing arts, LAMDA and more, with so much more taking place at lunchtimes, after school and on Fridays, (and I haven’t even mentioned the Farm. If you have a moment, please take a look at the incredible agricultural feats of our young people. If you have more than a moment, grab a tool (no, not him) and get weeding!)
I am very proud of the dedication of my colleagues, driven by a vocational commitment to go beyond the classroom, and our day-to-day roles. We recognise that our organisation can sometimes need a little more refinement. We are doing as much as we possibly can, as often as we can.
Trips and excursions
As I have made clear above, such trips and excursions enrich the character education of our pupils - your children - and the risk assessments, travel arrangements, supervision protocols, liaison with venues and pre-trip visits take place out of school hours in colleagues’ spare time. To have such a breadth of cultural capital for a small school is truly exceptional.
Allow me please to highlight events such as Alton Towers, managing 160 pupils at a theme park, or the Junior School trip for 95 pupils heading to Formby beach; trips to Chester Zoo, Daresbury Park, Jodrell Bank, residentials in Anglesey, theatre and museum trips to London. This is truly exceptional provision.
And then we have our foreign trips, and I must pay overdue credit to Mrs Storey for a fabulous ski trip to Bormio in Italy over New Year and to Ms Wilde for the recent trip to Paris. Both are utterly meticulous in their organisation, with the children’s safety, wellbeing and experience foremost in their minds.
Risk assessments are finely detailed, often reaching 20 or so pages. Itineraries are planned to the minute and always cramming the best of activities to make the very most of the opportunities.
I also thank colleagues who give up their own holidays and time with their families - beyond their contractual obligations - to support fabulous foreign excursions for the families of others.
I thank them all as a father and a headteacher for the sparkling opportunities for lifelong memories, and of course to you as parents for your financial commitment to your children.
Sometimes we bite off a little more than we can chew and I have to be pragmatic. A planned return trip to Iceland in October is perhaps too soon, and I want pupils and parents to have as much time to save for such events. 2027 will see a ski trip to Austria, a cultural trip (maybe to Rome?) and the opportunity for Iceland in the Autumn of that year.
The Cransley Foundation
Once again, I must celebrate the volunteers of The Cransley Foundation for their efforts throughout the year to provide unique social opportunities for families, all whilst maintaining full time professional roles. It will not be long before the huge Marquee is erected on the Back lawn in readiness for the Afternoon tea and Cransley Foundation Summer Ball - two major events in the School calendar, preparation for which began months ago, and at which all parents and friends of families are welcome.
I highly encourage both attendance at these events and your understanding of how vital the money raised is for the development of resources and first class facilities at Cransley. Your generosity, solely in participation, means so much to us.
Therefore, gather friends, use WhatsApp groups to amplify the positive and encourage participation, and take time to enjoy yourselves whilst providing vital funds for new developments.
Tickets for all Foundation events are available on ParentPay, and I will soon be launching Cransleyfest 2026 on the 5th September. I aim to have over 500 in attendance. More to follow.
I will see you at every event, and take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you.
Dates fOR the Diary
28 Apr 26 Y10 Assessments begin (see timetable)
29 Apr 26 Y6 & Y11 Formal and Informal Photographs
04 May 26 BANK HOLIDAY
05 May 26 Years 7-10 ISA Athletics at Sport City
06 May 26 Y10 Speedworks Greenpower Race Meeting Mallory Park
06 May 26 Year 8-10 athletics @ Victoria Park Warrington
07 May 26 Y11 Leavers' Assembly
07 May 26 Y11 Study leave commences 4pm
08 May 26 AJIS Tennis Tournament (U11) @Kings Chester
08 May 26 GCSE Examinations start
11 May 26 Y9 Assessments: Core subjects
12 May 26 Year 3-6 ISA Athletics at Sports City
14 May 26 LAMDA Exams - Year 6
18 May 26 Y9 Assessments: Option subjects
19 May 26 Year 6 ISA Rounders Tournament @ Alderley Edge
21 May 26 Speedworks Team Greenpower Event - Croft Circuit, Darlington
02 Jun 26 Year 5+6 AJIS Athletics @ Longford Park, Trafford
02 Jun 26 Music for Life Workshop with Y7
03 Jun 06 Junior School Trip to Formby Beach
04 Jun 26 Year 5+6 AJIS Girls Cricket @ AKS
05 Jun 26 The Trials' Immersive Performance
06 Jun 26 Speedworks Junior Team Greenpower Goblins Event - Litchfield, Staffs
09 Jun 26 Junior to Senior Transition Days
10 Jun 26 Year 8+9+10 ISA Rounders Tournament at Alderley Edge
10 Jun 26 Spanish Food Tasting - Whole School
11 Jun 26 Year 10 Parents' Evening (selected pupils)
15 Jun 26 ISA National Athletics Finals @ Alexander Stadium Birmingham
16 Jun 26 Year 6 AJIS Rounders @ Scarisbrick
16 Jun 26 Final GCSE Examination (am)
17 Jun 26 Sports Day Juniors AM and Seniors PM
18 Jun 26 Reserve Sports Day Juniors AM Seniors PM
22 Jun 26 Cransley Talent Show
22 Jun 26 Whole School Staff Meeting - NO CSE CLUBS
23 Jun 26 Violin/Ukulele Performance for Y4-6 - Afternoon
23 Jun 26 Acting Bug Performance - Wizard of Oz
24 Jun 26 Cransley Foundation Afternoon Tea
24 Jun 26 GCSE Contingency day
24 Jun 26 Yr 3&4 Visit Daresbury Labs TBC
25 Jun 26 Tri-School Golf Competition @ High Legh Park Golf Club
27 Jun 26 Cransley Foundation Summer Ball
29 Jun 26 Year 10 Biology/Geography Trip to Anglesey
30 Jun 26 Y7-9 Reward Trip to Chester Zoo
01 Jul 26 Prize Giving (Junior School, 2pm; Senior 6.30pm)
02 Jul 26 Summer Holidays Start 12pm
01-04 Jul 26 Stockton Heath Festival
01 Sep 26 Staff INSET 1
02 Sep 26 Staff INSET 2
03 Sep 26 Autumn term begins
05 Sep 26 Cransleyfest 26