Chairs Welcome
A very warm welcome to the final school event of the year, Speech Night 2024.
This is our time to look back at the school year, and reflect on the successes and challenges that it has presented. If the theme last year was internal change, this year it has to be external change.
By the time you are reading this, the General Election will have taken place, and the new political landscape will have become clearer. The manifesto promises of the Labour Party have made clear their intentions to adversely affect independent education, with potentially the removal of charitable status and associated tax advantages, but primarily with the imposition of VAT on school fees.
As a governing body, we are doing all we can to monitor and mitigate against the potential impact on our budgets. We feel strongly that an ideological promise to appeal to a section of voters is grossly unfair in impacting the education of large numbers of children, for whom parents make considerable sacrifices to get the best education possible for their children. We will keep our parents informed as the political situation becomes clearer. Rest assured we are taking what action we can along with other independent schools in lobbying against these changes
One initiative that we are undertaking is the expansion of early years provision, with a dedicated unit for two-year-olds being created in school. This will increase the number of nursery places at our very successful First Steps nursery, whilst giving the school a new cohort of children who may then move on to Lower Kindergarten, in school.
This material change triggered an inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. After a lot of hard work by our leadership team and staff, I can report that the inspector was very impressed with the EYFS provision, the staff he interviewed and especially the children. He commented on how diverse the school population is, and how well integrated those different faiths and cultures were. Well done to all involved.
Moving up the school, many congratulations to our leavers, who move on to their secondary schools with excitement and trepidation. We have four going to Woodhouse Grove, five to GSAL including two scholarships, one being the top mark across the whole entrance exam cohort. Three children leave for Bradford Grammar, including two scholarships, and places have been awarded at Heckmondwike Grammar, Ilkley Grammar, St Mary’s Menston, Immanuel College and Horsforth High. Very well done to all our leavers, you’ve made your parents and our staff very proud, and we will hear more about your achievements later in the evening. We also look forward to your performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat later.
Our guest speaker this evening is Sir Bradley Wiggins, the first Briton to win the Tour de France, five-time Olympic gold medallist, and former BBC Sports Personality of the Year. A warm welcome to Sir Bradley from all at Froebelian.
Finally, some thanks and recognition to comment on. To our teaching and support staff for pulling together so well through, at times, a difficult year. The family feel is back, and so welcome too. To our SLT, who have gone so far beyond the expected this year in making sure that exceptional education and pupil experience is being delivered.
To our parents, who contribute so much to the life of the school. Finally, to all my fellow members of school Council, who give unstinting support and guidance to the school, all on a voluntary basis; you have been outstanding over the last year.
I wish you all a very happy summer holidays, congratulations again to our leavers, and I look forward to seeing you all in the new school year.
