BACK TO SCHOOL
F or pupils, parents and teachers, September means one thing: back to school. Whether moving up a year or starting at a new school, it’s a time of change that can come with a whole range of emotions, from excitement to apprehension. While families may be focused on the immediate challenges of sorting out school uniform and planning the logistics of the school run, education leaders in our area have been in back-to-school mode for months, thinking through how to make everything about their educational offering – from new subjects to brand-new facilities – as good as it can possibly be. In fact, as Ellen Hesse, principal of Abbey College Cambridge, points out, contemplating the future is a never- ending preoccupation. “It’s always at the back of my mind. We review our school development plans formally every term.” That entails taking a clear-sighted look at the college’s goals, deciding on next steps and reviewing the timescale. “We have a dynamic document, and it informs us
Schools stress that ensuring students benefit from a first-class education remains top of the agenda
about what we need to start thinking about for the following academic year,” she says. Unsurprisingly, she is already well into planning for September 2026 and beyond, so families looking for places in the future can get a clear sense of the college’s vision when they visit. Challenges: accepted While ensuring maximum parent appeal, of course, schools also need to consider wider challenges, from the realities of tough economic conditions – including the recent addition of VAT to school fees – to working out just how to prepare pupils of today for the increasingly technology- dominated society of tomorrow. “We must provide the absolute best for students, as parents work incredibly hard and sacrifice a lot to send their children
NEW HORIZONS Leaders at Kimbolton (top) and Abbey College (above) are always thinking ahead
50 SEPTEMBER 2025 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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