We have enjoyed another exceptional week at school, filled with energy, imagination and a remarkable sense of community spirit. Across the school, pupils have continued to demonstrate confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm in a wide range of activities both inside and beyond the classroom.
One of the highlights of the week was last Friday’s ASPA Summer Fete, which brought together families, pupils and staff for a vibrant and joyful afternoon. The event was wonderfully attended and full of warmth, laughter and excitement. It was especially pleasing to see so many pupils proudly presenting and promoting their Mini Enterprise products with such confidence and professionalism. All groups enjoyed great success and many achieved healthy profits through their creativity, teamwork and entrepreneurial thinking. Events such as these play an enormously important role in developing communication skills, confidence and real-world problem solving in our pupils. We extend our sincere thanks to Mrs AlOkby, Chair of the ASPA, all parent volunteers and to all staff who supported such a successful community occasion.
We also enjoyed a truly memorable assembly led by Year 5 Hawthorn and Ms Sara Al Magrabi on the theme of The Power of Music. The quality of performance and presentation was outstanding and served as a powerful reminder that music is not simply a subject, but an essential part of creativity, confidence, expression and culture within school life. The children performed with real poise and enthusiasm, and the assembly captured the spirit and vibrancy of our school beautifully.
Our annual Science Fair, which concluded earlier this week, was another major success and a wonderful celebration of curiosity and discovery. Walking through the displays and presentations, it was impossible not to feel inspired by the enthusiasm and scientific thinking of our pupils. From EYFS through to Year 8, children demonstrated impressive levels of inquiry, communication and creativity as they explained their projects with confidence and pride. At Aldenham School Riyadh, we strongly believe in encouraging scientific thought, investigation and innovation from an early age: this year’s Science Fair reflected that vision superbly. My thanks and congratulations go to Mrs Siddiqah Choudhury, Head of Science, and to all colleagues and families who supported the event.
Sport has also taken centre stage across the school over the past two weeks. Our Sports Days have brought tremendous energy, encouragement and school spirit to the campus. Beginning with Nursery and continuing through Years 7 and 8, Year 6, Year 2 and Year 3, pupils have embraced every opportunity to participate, compete positively and support one another. These occasions are about far more than winning events. They help children develop resilience, teamwork, determination and confidence, while creating memories that remain with them for years to come. A huge thank you goes to Mrs Nikki Carter, Head of PE, and the PE Department for the enormous amount of organisation, care and enthusiasm behind these superbly managed events.
Pupil leadership also continues to flourish across the school. This week, I had the pleasure of attending both the School Council and Eco-Warrior meetings and was extremely impressed by the quality of discussion and the maturity of ideas proposed by the children. It is encouraging to see pupils developing the confidence to speak thoughtfully about issues that matter to them and to their community. I was particularly impressed by Leila in Year 1, who shared a number of excellent ideas regarding water-saving initiatives both at home and at school. Moments such as these remind us that leadership can begin at any age when children are encouraged to think independently and contribute positively to the world around them. My thanks go to Mrs Charlotte Malan and Mr William Gomm for supporting and guiding our pupil leaders so effectively.
During Tuesday’s Staff Meeting, we were also delighted to welcome Mrs Alex Hems, Head of the Aldenham Foundation. It was exciting to hear more about our sister school and to begin exploring future opportunities for collaboration that may benefit our pupils, staff and wider school community in the years ahead. These connections reflect the increasingly ambitious direction of the school and our commitment to providing pupils with meaningful international opportunities and experiences.
There is a tremendous amount to feel proud of across the school at present. Every week, we see children developing confidence, leadership, creativity, resilience and compassion through the rich opportunities available to them. Education is at its most powerful when children are inspired not only to achieve academically, but also to think deeply, contribute positively and believe in their own potential.
A thought that feels especially fitting this week: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” - Phil Jackson
At Aldenham School Riyadh, that sense of teamwork, shared purpose and collective
ambition continues to grow stronger every week.
