On the last day of term, we said a fond farewell to our wonderful Year 6 Class of 2026 as they celebrated the end of their Chinthurst journey and looked ahead to exciting new adventures at their senior schools.

The day began with a special Leavers' Service at the church, where the Upper School and parents gathered to celebrate everything this remarkable year group has achieved. The service opened beautifully with Noah's moving piano performance of Always With Me from Spirited Away, before Ms Trundle delivered a heartfelt speech that perfectly set the tone for the celebration.

Our talented Year 6 children then treated everyone to one final showcase of their many talents. Arnie performed Arioso by J.S. Bach on the cello, followed by an uplifting whole-year performance of I Lived by OneRepublic. Jacob and Hugo performed a dramatic excerpt from The Play of the Royal Astrologers by Willis Hall, while Annabel, Hal, Ava and Charlotte gave a wonderful performance of When I Grow Up from Matilda. A moving rendition of You'll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins created one of the most emotional moments of the service before the celebrations ended on a high, with the entire year group dancing and singing to Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield.

There were heartfelt reflections from members of staff, alongside inspiring speeches from our Head Girl, Rose, and Head Boy, Sebastian. Each child proudly received their Leavers' Certificate and a special keepsake to mark their time at Chinthurst. The much-anticipated leavers' video brought smiles, laughter and a few tears as it celebrated years of treasured memories, friendships and achievements.

As the children shared their ambitions for the future, it was inspiring to hear about the many different paths they hope to follow. Among the Class of 2026 are aspiring architects, barristers, F1 engineers, scientists, ornithologists, actors, musicians, designers, athletes and herpetologist, as well as future chefs, pilots, journalists and coders. Whatever lies ahead, we have every confidence that they will embrace every opportunity with the confidence, kindness and determination that define a Chinthurst education.

Back at school, the whole Chinthurst community lined the pathways to give Year 6 one final send-off. As they walked through the school for the last time, they were met with cheers, applause and plenty of happy tears from children and staff.

We are incredibly proud of every member of the Class of 2026. Thank you for the laughter, kindness, enthusiasm and countless memories you have brought to Chinthurst. We wish you every success as you begin the next chapter of your journey. Remember, you will always be part of the Chinthurst family, and our doors will always be open to welcome you back.