Over recent weeks we have seen some remarkable audience experiences at Northampton High School. Students from Year 9 upwards have been inspired by a compelling series of Reach lectures, from Mr Rickman’s ‘Language in Action’ to Dr Zoe Emerland’s talk on space and planetary environments. We have been thoroughly entertained by our whole school annual Dance Festival, a celebration of creativity and inclusivity, where our dancers radiated confidence and joy.

We have been equally captivated by the Performance Recital, which showcased soloists from both Junior and Senior Schools, along with standout performances from The Mighty Tooty Fluties and our school band. The Year 7 Showcase shared thoughtful reflections on life in Senior School through poetry, song and speech. Meanwhile, the mightily impressive Spring Collective, featuring over 273 artworks, presented what was arguably one of the most diverse and exciting collections of high quality art we have displayed to date.

All of these talks, performances and exhibitions have offered the opportunity for the audience to connect: to think together and to feel together. They have offered moments to learn from remarkable individuals and to witness the extraordinary passion and commitment of our students.

As we reach the end of term, I would like to highlight one special audience experience that epitomises something of the High School spirit – the spectacular Year 5 and 6 musical production of Peter Pan. The pupils embraced the classic story with joyful energy, and the audience was enthralled by fast-paced action, witty dialogue and wonderfully catchy tunes.  We were transported to Neverland, where fairies, pirates, and a certain ticking crocodile brought laughter, wonder and delight.

Our pupils sang their hearts out and poured themselves into their stagecraft, bringing the magic of Neverland to life without a pinch of pixie dust needed. The costumes and props were stunning: from Peter Pan’s and Tinkerbell’s outfits to the wild warrior costumes, shimmering mermaid shells, and the pirates’ flamboyant swords. As always, a production like this is a team effort, with sound, lighting, props, costumes, set design, choreography, stage management and music all coming together seamlessly under the expert direction of Mrs Dadge, Miss Brandon-Jones and Ms Witts. The bar has certainly been set high for next year!

It was especially heartwarming to see so many of our girls come out of their shells (pardon the mermaid pun!) and shine – delivering brave, expressive performances and cracking pun-filled lines to a packed theatre. They certainly earned enough applause to save a fairy or two! This swashbuckling production revealed the extraordinary talent within our school and gave our pupils the chance to grow in confidence both on and off stage.

Their hard work paid off. The show’s central themes of growing up, the importance of family bonds, the meaning of friendship and the enduring power of love and hope resonated powerfully with the audience. These themes were vividly and movingly brought to life through their heartfelt, and often touchingly brave, performances. Huge congratulations to everyone involved in such a memorable production to round off a vibrant and busy term.

It is not easy to say in a few words why the High School is such a wonderful place: but the way our Year 5 and 6 dazzled in Peter Pan gets close to it. It really was something special, and it is amazing what happens when you just believe.

My hope is that all our girls feel that their High School gives them the foundations to overcome any obstacle and the confidence to believe there are no limits to what they can achieve.

As we head into the Easter break, I hope the spirit of Peter Pan lingers a little longer: the courage to try new things, the joy of imagination, the comfort of friendship and the belief that anything is possible.

Wishing you all a restful and joyful Easter: good luck to our exam cohorts as they revise with purpose while making time to recharge. Wishing freedom of spirit to all.

We look forward to seeing you next term.

Dr Lee
Headteacher