Venturing Beyond

New York Trip

I think I speak for both travelling pupils and fellow colleagues alike, when I say that it has taken me until now - a week later - to fully recover from the utter delights (and exhaustion) of our New York Trip last week.

Please do not underestimate the efforts required to take 28 teenagers across the world, yet the perfectly organised and executed three days of excursions lead by Mr Wilson, with the support of Mrs Lowe and Mrs Nutley, made the trip remarkably rewarding and deeply memorable. I am more than happy when my role is reduced to being the school nurse and mule for mislaid rucksacks.

Our pupils were perfectly behaved, with conduct and courtesy enough to garner particular comments from our hotel staff, restaurant staff, cabin crew and tour guides. I was very proud indeed.

Before the academic year is over, we will have taken two groups to Spain, both skiing and for a language cultural visit. Where Mt Wilson takes us next in his global science journey is unknown. But what I do know, is that when Cransley does venture beyond, it is done in the best possible way.

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Cransley School Farm Project

For those families, particularly in the Senior School who were not able to join us for our Junior Harvest Festival, it gives me great pleasure to promote the a most marvellous and culture-changing Farm project in our Junior School, using the working title ‘Cransley Sustainable Futures’, the brainchild of Mr Morris together with some notable Cransley parents. The first stages of the project have now been completed with the ground preparation and the planting of fruit trees by parents, pupils and staff before half term. Please take a short moment to review the project on the dedicated webpage.

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Admissions

We will be holding a Senior School Year 7 Experience Day on Saturday 23rd November at 9am until 12.30pm) for all prospective Year 7 pupils starting in September 2025. Please do share this event with any friends and family and direct them to our website for further information.

For younger families, we are holding an EYFS Bright Beginnings day on the 21st November at 1.30pm for all nursery-aged children thinking of joining our EYFS in September.

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Dates for the Diary (Please see further emails for individual class events and class trips):

• 4.11.24 - School opens for Autumn 2nd half term

• 8.11.24 - Individual/Sibling Photographs

• 8.11.24 - Foundation Fireworks - Tickets on ParentPay

• 22.11.24 - Nasal Flu Vaccinations

• 6.12.24 - School Closed

• 11.12.24 - Christmas House Feast

• 17.12.24 - Junior School Christmas Performance (in School)

• 18.12.24 - Senior School Reward Trip (Cheshire Oaks)

• 19.12.24 - Senior School Carol Service (at St Marys, Great Budworth)

• 19.12.24 - School closes for Christmas

Cransley Content Creators and other alliterative events (1 of 2)

Cransley Content Creators

Cransley Content Creators

For a couple of years, a group of highly focussed and committed pupils in our Senior School have been keen to develop pupil life through digital content. Such efforts have included the creation of a dedicated online pupil hub and weekly briefing, with sections promoting areas of cultural interest such as film, art, design, music, pets and books, and even areas of support for pupils on matters of neurodiversity (The Umbrella Club) and LGBT+. The team are keen to branch out into other subjects and other media including podcasting, filmmaking and even early entrepreneurism.

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Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition

Finally, after three weeks, the washing machine has stopped spinning and the once-much muddied detritus belonging to our Year 10 and 11 D of E’ers has spilled out onto the floor. Our pupils - all since walking in some discomfort after their weekend expedition, put in over seven miles a day, camped overnight, fed themselves and navigated their way through the wilds of Delamere. In the main, all went well and the weather was a little more favourable than on the test weekend. We continue to support our pupils as they finish the volunteer, skills and physical sections of their D of E criteria to successfully gain their Bronze Award.

Our D of E partner has been Excel Outdoors Ltd over recent years, and I am keen to develop that partnership, with the Silver Award offered to Year 10, and staff and pupils having the opportunity to gain a Hills Skills accreditation through a number of hikes and expeditions across the school later in the year.

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ISA Arts Competition

Congratulations to a record number of ISA North Arts Competition entries from the Junior and Senior Schools, and to the fabulous Mrs Chester and Mrs West, for a bumper set of first places! All go through to the national Final at the ISA Autumn Conference next month.

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Macmillan Coffee Morning

Thank you to those who joined us for our Coffee morning and contributed so generously by donating baked goods and then buying the cakes of others. An astonishing £1,197.24 was raised, alongside a deliciously sweet, buttery aroma and a happy energy throughout the school. I have put on at least half a stone in lemon drizzle cake alone.

Now, many guests claimed that cake before 10am was frowned upon - by whom I do not know - however I did note that no one had reason to complain much after a few minutes, especially whilst stuffing ginger tiffin into their faces. Happy days…

My thanks for Miss Totterdell and Mrs Totterdell-Lambert for their commitment to the cause and so many family bakers.

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Cransley Foundation Fireworks

A reminder to buy tickets through ParentPay for this popular event. Already many tickets have been sold and we are capped at 449 due to our event licence and car park. Therefore please buy quickly - for your sake - to avoid the little faces of abject disappointment and lingering sadness as you confess to your children that you were too late to get tickets.

They will never forgive you.

More information can be found here.

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Socials

Adventures await

Trips and educational visits

It is at this time of year that a series of exciting requests come through to my desktop, seeking permission to take our pupils on a variety of inspiring and enjoyable educational trips over the coming academic year.

These excursions range from our usual residentials, designed to encourage personal growth, risk-taking and teamwork, to a local exploration where pupils delve into the fascinating hidden history of Knutsford or Chester; planned visits to significant places such as Quarry Bank Mill, where students can learn about our local industrial heritage, and even a David Hockney exhibition that showcases contemporary art. Trips such as these will, in the coming weeks, whisk some pupils away to the bustling streets of the Big Apple, and some to the big pond on the other side of the Estate.

Year 7 at the Conwy Centre, Plas Coch

Our considerations are around timing, risk mangement and pupil well-being, and cost, of course, with a cap now placed at £120 per year (excluding residentials), whilst ensuring the pupils have the most engaging opportunities to develop local, regional and even international experience and curriculum enhancement.

We hope that ParentPay is proving a suitable means of paying for such trips and giving permission. It certainly assist with the considerable workload requrieed to organise, manage and carry out these varied events.

Such adventures await!

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Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award

Cheshire clay sticks fast!

A majority of our Year 10 and Year 11 pupils will be enjoying an exciting early autumn excursion across the picturesque Cheshire countryside this weekend, all in pursuit of their Duke of Edinburgh Award, which is expertly run by Excel Outdoors, a reputable and specialist provider for DofE activities. This initiative has been brilliantly organised by the dedicated efforts of Mrs. Lowe and Mrs. Harford.

This weekend marks the crucial Expedition element of their training—where pupils must meticulously plan, train for, and successfully complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with a clearly defined aim. Participants are required to complete three further integral and substantial commitments in order to achieve the Bronze Award - Volunteering, Skills, and Physical.

After enduring a rather soggy practice expedition during the weekend of our Open Day, we are pleased to note that the weather appears a little more promising for them in the days ahead.

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New York

Times Square, New York

We continue Mr. Wilson’s “Grand Tour across America in the Name of Science” with an exhilarating five days in New York City, providing both pupils and staff an unforgettable experience in one of the world’s most vibrant and bustling urban environments, renowned for its iconic skyline, incredibly diverse culture, and rich historical significance, with some science-related opportunities cleverly woven into a week otherwise filled with fun and excitement*.

Throughout our adventure, we will be visiting a selection of world-famous landmarks, including the majestic Statue of Liberty, the poignant World Trade Centre site, the electrifying atmosphere of Times Square, and the tranquil beauty of Central Park.

Anticipation is building for another adventure, and I can’t wait!

* It’s important to note, that apparently science is not only informative, but it can also be quite fun and exciting. (I have to say that - I’m now going to be spending five days and two long flights in the company of three enthusiastic and fantastic science teachers - Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Lowe, and Mrs. Nutley - who will undoubtedly find a way to make me pay for my earlier scientific flippancy.)

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Friday Biscuits

For some of our younger pupils, it is an adventure simply to visit the rooms of Belmont Hall and in particular the sometimes-daunting Head’s Study (daunting for me as well!)

But not our fabulous Year 4 class who joined me for Friday biscuits and juice earlier this afternoon. 

In return for an elderflower cordial and a shortbread, the pupils began their interrogation with a series of probing and emotionally-intelligent questions about life as a headteacher; to which I offered some vague, bumbling, and considerably less intelligent answers, and Year 4 eventually left, muttering about inadequacies amongst the school leadership, but with pockets full of biscuits.

I hope they return soon.  I can’t find my secret chocolate stash…or my integrity.

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Cransley Foundation Fireworks

As Autumn slowly creeps forward, it will not be long until our ever popular Fireworks Night.  Please see the dedicated webpage below, and book quickly through Parentpay.  All 450 tickets were sold last year, with some left disappointed.

Have a fabulous warm weekend.

Richard Pollock

Headteacher