As a founding school, there are moments that feel especially meaningful. This week, one of those moments was our Re-enrolment Breakfast, where we had the opportunity to come together with many of our founding families to celebrate how far we have come in our very first year and look ahead to the exciting journey still to come.
Building a school from the ground up is never simply about opening classrooms or filling a building. It is about creating a community, shaping a culture, and building something that children and families genuinely feel part of. Sitting with parents this week, hearing stories of growth, friendships, achievements, and shared experiences reminded me just how special this first year has been.
Our founding families took a leap of faith when they joined us. They believed in a vision before there was a history, before traditions existed, and before the school had written its story. Together, we are now writing that story every day.
As we look ahead to next year, it is incredibly exciting to see our school continuing to grow. Student numbers are increasing, we are opening new classes, and with growth comes new opportunities for our children.
We are delighted to be welcoming new staff members to our community, bringing additional expertise, energy, and experiences that will further strengthen our provision. As our school expands, we remain committed to ensuring that every child continues to feel known, valued, and supported.
Alongside our growth, we have been working hard behind the scenes to further develop our learning environment. Specialist spaces have now been designed and planned to enrich learning opportunities across the school. Students can look forward to dedicated IT spaces, FAB labs, science laboratories, art rooms, music rooms, a new first floor library, and a canteen area ready for our middle and high school students.
These developments are not simply about adding facilities. They are about creating spaces that inspire curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and a love of learning.
One of the most important lessons we have learned as a founding school is the value of listening. We have always said that parent and student voice matters, and we continue to actively seek feedback to help shape our future direction.
Over the past week I have spent time meeting students across the school, hearing directly from them about what they enjoy, what they would like to see introduced, and what recommendations they have as we continue to grow. Their ideas, honesty, and enthusiasm never fail to impress me. Some of the best ideas often come from the people experiencing school life every day.
Equally, parent feedback continues to guide many of our decisions. Throughout this year we have embraced a “You said, we did” approach because schools are strongest when communities work together.
As we begin to plan for Year Two, there is a real sense of excitement. New opportunities, new spaces, new staff, and new experiences await us. Yet while our school grows, what matters most will remain unchanged: our commitment to creating a school where children feel happy, challenged, supported, and inspired.
Thank you to all of our founding families for being part of this incredible journey. The first year of Rushmore has been something truly special and we are only just getting started.