This year seems to have sped by and what a year it has been. We have so enjoyed three terms of teaching and co-curricular activities, with far fewer interruptions as a result of COVID. It has been a joy to see year groups interacting – in the classroom, on the sports pitches and in the corridors.

In our 120th birthday year, so far, we have really had some superb celebrations as well as wonderful productions and musical events. Our Founder’s Day, in this special year, was particularly poignant and also inspiring. We received a card from Micky Burton-Brown, the great-nephew of Ethel-Ann Burton-Brown, the school’s second Headmistress, after Julia Huxley. It very aptly carried a cricketing image with the phrase 100 – amended to 120! – not out. We are certainly ‘not out’ and I was proud to visit Compton Cemetery to put flowers on the graves of Julia Huxley, our founder, and the Burton-Browns, who started this fantastic school of which we are now all a part – its ethos, its aims and its persona, which remain very similar to this day. We are all very excited about the Rose Garden Restoration Project which we hope will see the Jekyll-designed garden outside my office restored to its former glory. 

Sports Day was a wonderful event – we were delighted to welcome so many parents and guardians to watch the track events completing the sporting competitions which led to Frank being crowned the winning House. I think the staff v Sixth Form relay will be remembered by us all; it was certainly very hard-fought. The dog show was great fun to round off the afternoon. It has been wonderful to build up our diary of fixtures this year. We are doing particularly well at cricket this year. Well done to the U12 and U13 cricket teams who recently beat Farnborough Hill and SWPS respectively. Our U14/15 cricket team took on George Abbot in the semi-final of their county competition and on Friday played Emanuel in the final, which I am delighted to say that they won. Our tennis teams have been just as successful, as both our U12/13 and U14/15 teams won their quarter-final matches against Nonsuch High in the LTA Surrey Schools competition; they wait to hear who their opposition will be in the semi-finals which will take place in September.

The range of trips, visits and activities available in Activities Week last week was truly mind-blowing. Reports received from those who have returned from the Port Lympne Safari Park in Kent, Longleat and Stonehenge, Heron’s Wey campsite, Buddens in Dorset, Hawley Lake, London and Oxford art galleries, the National Centre for Circus Arts, the Harry Potter Experience, Liquid Leisure and Marwell Zoo and from those who have been on site making a music video, working on a textiles project, learning how to apply special effects stage make-up, creating afternoon tea, spray painting t-shirts, lantern making and creating stop motion animation – have been overwhelmingly positive.

Fourth Form and Fifth Form students have also been completing their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Award final expeditions, in the Surrey Hills and Dorset, respectively. I am a big fan of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the benefits it can bring to anyone who has the application and commitment to see it through. 

While the rest of the school has been busy both in and out of school, the Lower Sixth have been focussing on their future. They have visited the University of Surrey and Oxford Brookes University to gain an insight into university life and have been thinking about their personal statements, which the Sixth Form team will work on more with them next term.

On Friday 8th July 2022, at our renamed annual event, Prize Giving, we celebrated achievement, progress and effort over the year, also recognising particular talent in subject areas and wider cross-school activity. I have now been at Prior’s Field for seven years, and I remember clearly my first Speech Day, as it was then called, as Head. The pride I felt then has only grown over the years. The occasion always impresses on me that we really do achieve what we set out to do – ultimately to send out into the world confident competent young women excited and equipped to tackle and enjoy the next step of their journey. Natasha Fanshawe, our speaker, an Old Girl and also a trustee of the Prior’s Field Foundation, was inspiring as she described the steps she has taken along the way, from Prior’s Field to where she is now.

It was also the perfect end to the year - strawberries and cream on the field enjoyed by all, Fifth Form mocktails in the Rose Garden and the Upper Sixth leavers’ party with a fabulous buffet under the sail marquee on the field.

I hope that the sunshine continues and that everyone is able to find time to relax and re-energise over the holidays. We look forward to a new term again in September.

Tracy Kirnig, Head