This year was not only an opportunity to look back on 2016, it was also an opportunity for the wider community of the school to look back over the last 50 years as we celebrated the golden anniversary of comprehensive education in Cirencester. It was great fun dressing up to represent each of the last five decades and it was a real treat to host a reunion for former pupils, parents, staff and governors and listen to their memories of the school. Now as we prepare for 2017 we are thinking again about the future and how we can continue to provide high quality education.

2016 has been a busy and productive year. We were thrilled to celebrate so many outstanding individual successes in our ‘Class of 2016’  and recognise our pupils’ achievements.

For me, as Headteacher, I was also delighted to hear so many young voices in both our Talent Show for the BBC’s Children in Need and Christmas Carol Service. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ghana Quiz and Promises Auction and I am really looking forward to travelling to Ghana in April 2017 to volunteer alongside 26 of our Year 10 pupils. I was privileged to meet with our Year 9 Football team who made really good progress in the National Cup before being knocked out in the fifth round in Exeter. They were well led and shared a strong sense of commitment. Similarly, I am proud of our individual young sports men and women who have achieved success in diverse sports ranging from cross country to table tennis. Pupils in Year 7 have made an excellent first impression and the groups I currently work with in the library are as keen as I am, and love to share their reading choices. This week some of our ‘Flamingos’ recommended I read ‘The Weight of Water’ by Sarah Crossan,  ‘The School for Good and Evil’ by Soman Chainani and ‘Murder Most Unladylike’ by Robin Stevens.

Ms Chiquita Henson, Head

We hope that you enjoy some of Deer Park's ‘best bits of 2016’ and hope that you share these highlights too. We wish you all a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Term start for all pupils and staff on Tuesday 3 January, which is Week 1.