As we reach the end of another remarkably busy and successful half-term, there is a tremendous amount for our school community to celebrate.

The past few weeks have been filled with assemblies, educational visits, Sports Days, Parent Teacher Conferences, performances and countless moments of learning, encouragement and growth that together define the daily life of Aldenham School Riyadh. Across the school, there continues to be a real sense of momentum, positivity and shared purpose, and it has been wonderful to see our pupils embracing so many opportunities with confidence and enthusiasm.

One of the highlights of the past fortnight has undoubtedly been our Sports Days programme, which concluded yesterday. From Nursery through to Year 8, pupils participated with enthusiasm, resilience and genuine school spirit. There has been encouragement, teamwork, determination and celebration throughout. Events such as these are about far more than competition alone. They help children develop confidence, character, perseverance and a strong sense of belonging within the school community.

We were especially delighted to receive lovely feedback from a Year 1 parent this week praising the positivity, organisation and enjoyment of the event, particularly the joy on the children’s faces as they received their medals at the end of the day. Moments such as these remind us how important it is for children to feel recognised, encouraged and celebrated.

Our sincere thanks go to Mrs Nikki Carter and the PE Department for the enormous amount of care, organisation and enthusiasm behind these superbly run events.

This week also saw two full days of Parent Teacher Conferences, which provided valuable opportunities for meaningful conversations between home and school. These partnerships are enormously important and continue to strengthen the sense of trust, collaboration and shared ambition that exists within our community. Thank you to all families for their continued support and engagement.

We were also delighted by the success of last week’s Open Day, which reflected the growing momentum and reputation of Aldenham School Riyadh within the wider community. With over 400 prospective families signing up and more than 30 pupil assessments taking place on the day itself, the event was exceptionally well attended and full of positive energy. My sincere thanks go to the many pupils, parents and staff who supported the occasion so enthusiastically. In particular, Lily, Head Girl, Zak, Head Boy, and Ettore, Deputy Head Boy, presented wonderfully and received many highly complimentary comments regarding their confidence, warmth and presentation skills. They represented the school exceptionally well and should feel very proud of themselves.

On Monday, our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils visited Aquarabia and returned full of excitement, laughter and stories from the day. Experiences such as these play an important role in building friendships, confidence and shared memories beyond the classroom, helping to create a balanced and enriching school experience for our pupils.

As we now move into the half-term holiday and the celebration of Eid Al Adha, there is also an opportunity to pause and reflect on how much our children have achieved since the start of the academic year. Schools are busy places filled with constant activity, but behind every lesson, every assembly, every trip and every event lies something far more important: the gradual development of confident, compassionate and capable young people.

Following the holiday, end-of-year assessments and examinations will begin for most of our year groups. In particular, pupils in Years 7 and 8 should continue spending some time revising and preparing carefully for these assessments. Revision guidance has already been shared with families. Pupils in Years 5 and 6 would also benefit from maintaining some light preparation and reading during the break so that they return feeling confident and ready for the final weeks of term.

At the same time, we hope that the holiday provides opportunities for rest, family time and celebration. Balance is important, and children thrive best when they return refreshed, happy and ready to learn.

To all families celebrating Eid Al Adha, we extend our warmest wishes for a peaceful and joyful Eid filled with kindness, family and togetherness.