From the Headmaster

Well done to all the staff and children and thank you for your overwhelming and strong support via the questionnaires at the beginning of the process. The report itself is rather dry as standards are either `met’ or ‘not met’ but the inspector did say, off the record, how taken the inspection team had been by the happy and welcoming atmosphere; she described DH as a `very special place’.

I would also like to add that Reporting Inspectors are human too… On the final morning we had a meeting, at the end of which she said, ‘I formally advise you that we have now finished information gathering and the inspection process: ‘you can let all of your dogs out now…’ she added with a wry smile. `Dogs?’ I replied quizzically.`Yes, man’s best friend. I could tell by all of the water bowls distributed around the school: your study, the staffroom, outside the music school, in the Pre-Prep and on the terrace for instance’. `Ah, dogs,’ I replied…

Many of the visitors to the school this year have remarked on the open and friendly atmosphere and the fact that the children are keen to share what they are learning. There is also a strong sense of belonging - fostered through our House system; School Council and regular inter-action between older and younger pupils. Boarding (from Year 5) is another important area which encourages independence in familiar surroundings and I know that Mr Marconi and his team have exciting plans to further develop this area. We were delighted to learn that from a field in excess of 400 entries this year, we have won a `Muddy Stilettos’ award for `Best Sense of School Spirit’. And hot off the press...we have been shortlisted for an Independent School of the