Dear Friends, 

As I sought inspiration for this brief greeting, I needed to look no further than the new video about the school. I encourage you to check it out. I think it captures so well the heart of all that The Chantry School is about. In my 7 years of close association with the school, I have witnessed and experienced time and again a spirit of collaboration, encouragement, challenge and support, in a community atmosphere where relationships at all levels are highly valued and respected. I am very proud to be Chair of Governors at The Chantry School, where along with Andy Dickenson and his Senior Leadership Team, we seek to create an excellent environment and excellent teaching, through which pupils can flourish and thrive.

This last year has been one of unprecedented challenges as you well know, but the exemplary commitment of the whole team, teaching and non-teaching, to provide the best possible education for the pupils, under the circumstances, has been nothing short of inspirational. I now look forward to this coming academic year where, in close partnership with Andy, we shall seek to fulfil the Core Functions of the governing body:

1. Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Hold executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the performance management of staff
3. Oversee the financial performance of the organisation and make sure its money is well spent

My final comment is a direct quote from the video: ’The Chantry isn’t just an exam factory; it is teaching us to be young people and part of a modern society’. What more could we ask for?

Paul Wilcox
Chair of Governors