I have been absolutely thrilled to welcome back all our Junior Department girls this week. As soon as the announcement was made that schools were able to choose to take back additional primary year groups, the plans we had been working on, started to come to fruition. All girls in the Junior Department were offered a place to return to School from Monday 15 June.  

I would like to thank all our Junior Department staff for their positive and ‘can-do’ attitude in ensuring a successful first week back. We often teach the girls that anything is possible with hard work, cooperation and willingness, and this week their teachers have certainly proved this to be true!  

I have been extremely impressed with the way the girls have embraced their ‘new normal’. Social distancing in classrooms, increased hand washing, and air hugs have all been greeted with understanding, good humour and positivity: it makes me so proud to be the Head of the Junior Department at LHS. 

Our keyworker girls, who have been keeping our spirits up in School for the past thirteen weeks, have been quick to welcome back their friends and have been supporting them in the new ways of doing things around School. The girls have all loved being back in School, catching up with their friends and teachers. Even the School work has been embraced! 

During lockdown, the parents have been doing a fantastic job of balancing home learning with their own work and family commitments and I’d like to thank our parents again for this support. This has been a reflective time for many of us, and one of the positive things which has shone through for me has been the strength of the partnership between LHS and our parents.  

As School settles into a new rhythm, our planning for September is picking up pace. We are working hard to ensure all the girls have a successful transition into their next year at LHS. Our Year 5 parents have been contacted by Mrs McCarthy, Head of Year 6 and 7, and have received information on what to expect as they join the Senior School. We will be finalising induction activities and information over the next few weeks and will be updating all parents shortly.  

After such a period of change, to have our Junior Department ringing once again with the sound of learning, laughter and fun has been truly wonderful - LHS is back! 

Mrs Sarah Davies 

Head of Junior Department