The academic year has drawn to a close. A year that begin with the spectre of Covid hanging over us has ended in a much more positive fashion. A sense of normality has returned and things we have always taken for granted have begun taking place again. School is a much happier place for that.

We have completed an exam season for the first time in 3 years; just writing that sentence seems incredible. As well as the welcome return of exams, we have also welcomed back the extra-curricular activities that make school such a vibrant place to be. Trips and visits have started again; school sports fixtures have taken place every week and we held our first school Prom for three years at the end of June. We have all got our fingers crossed that 2022-23 sees a full academic year free from disruption.

The last year has been a challenge and that continued into the last week of term with the impact of the recent heatwave. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support. Working in partnership is vital in ensuring we can deliver success for your children, our students, and I am enormously grateful for the support you provide.

As always at this time of year we are bidding farewell to a number of staff. Amongst those leaving is Mrs Swattridge. She joined the school in September 1979 - I was 8!! Including a break for the birth of her children, Mrs Swattridge has spent 43 years of her life at Severn Vale. That is a truly remarkable achievement, the likes of which we will probably never see again. Despite have earned a well-deserved retirement, Mrs Swattridge is in fact coming back in September to work as a maths tutor for our Year 11s two mornings a week. Even after 43 years she is still up for supporting more of our students. Those staff leaving include:

• Mrs Swattridge
• Mrs Jorden
• Mrs Davies
• Mrs Davis
• Mr Pockett
• Mrs Waugh
• Ms Shellard
• Ms Baker
• Ms Kingsman
• Mrs Siracusa
• Mrs Taylor
• Ms Paya Barge
• Mr Pinco