Welcome from Jo Duncan | 10 December 2020

Christmas means different things to different people. For me, Christmas has always been a traditional time of celebration with family and friends in Northern Ireland. While I have lived in a variety of different schools over the years, I have never spent a Christmas in any of them! This year will be different – as it has been in so many ways – and I will be onsite at Wycombe Abbey for the holiday period.

As the year draws to a close, it is a time to reflect on the past 12 months. The pandemic has been a challenge for all of us and the last few days in particular, with our first positive pupil cases, have required us to come together and work as a close community to steer our way through. I am enormously grateful to parents for your messages of support and your flexibility and patience in the changing situation.

Throughout this term, staff have been impressed with the pupils’ attitudes, care for one another and resilience. We are enjoying the Christmas decorations around the site and in some ways, they have given a sense of normality and a reminder of the traditions we enjoy at this time of year. While we have not been able to come together for our annual Carol Service, we will be sending a link to our specially recorded service shortly which I hope you will enjoy.

I am sure that pupils and parents would like to join with me in thanking staff across the School – teaching and support – for their continued hard work and commitment to the smooth running of the School. I would like to pay particular thanks to Council for their guidance and wisdom throughout the term.

I wish you all Season’s Greetings and a well-earned rest wherever you are spending the holidays. I look forward to happy and healthy year in 2021.

Best wishes

Jo Duncan MA (St Andrews), PGCE (Cantab)
Headmistress