A message from our Headteacher, Mrs Mitchell
Welcome back to Oakhyrst Grange!
There is something rather special about the start of a new school year. After the quietness of the summer holidays, the school once again feels full of life — filled with laughter, excited conversations, new friendships and the wonderful energy of children ready to learn.
It has been a real pleasure to welcome everyone back this week and to see our school community come together once again.
✨ A Special Welcome
For our returning pupils, it has been lovely to see familiar faces reunited and to watch the children settle confidently into their new year groups and routines.
For our new pupils and families, I would like to extend an especially warm Oakhyrst welcome.
Starting at a new school is a big step, and I have been incredibly proud to see how quickly our new children have begun to find their feet. Friendships are already forming, older pupils have been looking out for younger children, and there has been a wonderful sense of belonging across the school.
This is exactly what makes our Oakhyrst community so special.
📚 Ready to Learn
The first week of term is about much more than simply finding our classrooms and remembering our routines!
Across the school, our pupils have already been busy learning, exploring new ideas and getting to know their teachers. Classrooms have been full of curiosity and enthusiasm, with children beginning to think about what they would like to achieve during the year ahead.
At Oakhyrst, we are committed to excellence in every area of school life. We want every child to flourish academically while also developing the confidence, character and emotional wellbeing they need to thrive.
A new academic year brings new opportunities and new challenges, and we want our children to approach both with confidence.
We encourage our pupils to be curious, independent and resilient learners — children who are willing to ask questions, have a go, make mistakes and try again.
Sometimes the most important lessons are learned when things don’t go quite according to plan.
🤝 Living Our Values
One of the things I have enjoyed most this week has been seeing our Oakhyrst values in action.
Our children have shown kindness towards new classmates, responsibility in their new roles, independence as they settle into new routines and resilience as they take on new challenges.
These qualities are at the heart of who we are as a school.
Our aim is to nurture the whole child. Academic achievement is important, but so too are pastoral care, personal development, confidence and character. We want our pupils not only to achieve their very best, but to grow into confident, thoughtful and compassionate young people who are ready to make a positive contribution to the world around them.
💛 Thank You to Our Oakhyrst Community
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful staff.
A successful start to the school year takes an enormous amount of preparation, care and teamwork, and I am incredibly grateful for the energy, dedication and enthusiasm that every member of staff has brought to the start of this term.
I would also like to thank our parents for your continued support.
The partnership between home and school is so important to us. By working together, we can ensure that every child feels happy, supported and encouraged to achieve their very best — both in the classroom and beyond.
🌟 And So, We Begin…
There is already a real sense of excitement about the year ahead.
There will be new experiences, exciting opportunities, challenges to overcome, friendships to strengthen and plenty of memories to make.
As we begin the Autumn Term 2026, I hope that every child approaches the year with a sense of curiosity and confidence, knowing that they are part of a school community that believes in them, supports them and wants them to flourish.
At Oakhyrst, we believe that every child has the potential to achieve excellence in their own way. Our role is to provide the opportunities, encouragement and care that allow each individual to discover what they can achieve.
Here’s to a wonderful year ahead! 🌿
With very best wishes,
Mrs Mitchell
Headteacher
Oakhyrst Grange School
