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An invitation flew into my inbox yesterday for the Summer Art exhibition on 8th June, with some sneak previews of stunning artwork produced by students across the Senior School. It reminded me of how the Art Department nurtures all girls to be able to express themselves creatively with confidence. My experience at school was rather different: I was instructed not to take GCSE Art, and I was certainly convinced of my own inability!
Yet creativity is something everyone possesses, and I firmly believe that everyone can learn the key skills of artistic expression. So it is refreshing to see the breadth of artwork in the School, and the number of students going onto further study beyond the Sixth Form. The creative industries in the UK account for over 2 million jobs, and it has been inspiring to see alumnae flourish in this sector, from singer Hannah Reid (of London Grammar) to artist Ruth Heppel.
I am greatly looking forward to our “Hillfest” event on 1st July, an opportunity for families to gather here to enjoy musical, dramatic and other performances from across the School, with plenty of refreshments. It should cap a year in which we have gradually been able to enjoy the Arts live again. We have also been thinking about how we can help parents reconnect with each other, particularly those whose daughters joined the School more recently, when restrictions have made social gatherings harder. I will be writing with the Parents’ Guild after half-term to explore some possible opportunities for the year ahead, to canvas views, and to seek involvement in the events which the Guild run with such energy and enthusiasm.
I would like to wish you all a very good half-term break.
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