Dear Ash Mount Community,
It has been another busy and energising week at Ash Mount, and one that really reminds me how much thoughtful work is happening behind the scenes as we build the school together.
Aamna has been in the Netherlands this week, taking part in a school review, bringing back valuable insights about learning, leadership, and school culture. At the same time, I’ve been co-facilitating the final stage of the NPQH, working alongside experienced school leaders as they reflect on what it truly means to lead schools well. Tom and I have also been meeting with universities to begin shaping clear and ambitious pathways for our future secondary students, while Tom is now immersed in NEASC training, strengthening his understanding of school quality and improvement.
All of this matters deeply. When school leaders continue to learn, reflect, and challenge their thinking, it has a direct impact on students. Strong professional learning ensures that decisions are thoughtful, informed, and always centred on what is best for children, both now and in the future. It’s part of our commitment to building a school that is outward-looking, connected, and future-focused.
Closer to home, it was lovely to welcome so many of you to today’s Coffee & Connect session. These moments of conversation and connection are always a highlight, and I’m really looking forward to continuing that sense of community at our Founding Families Picnic on Sunday. Spending time together, getting to know one another, and building relationships is such an important part of shaping the culture of Ash Mount.
As we begin February, our Voices of Ash Mount blogs will focus on the next part of our vision: Leading with Courage.
Leading with courage is not about being the loudest voice or always taking charge. It’s about having the confidence to do the right thing, even when it feels difficult. It’s about standing up for others, speaking up when something doesn’t feel fair, and making thoughtful choices guided by values rather than convenience.
At school, we will support children to develop courage by encouraging open conversations, helping them reflect on their choices, and modelling integrity in how we respond to challenges. We want children to understand that courage often looks like kindness, honesty, and responsibility, not bravado.
Families can support this at home in simple but meaningful ways: talking about everyday dilemmas, encouraging children to express their views respectfully, praising effort and integrity rather than outcomes alone, and showing through your own actions that doing the right thing matters, even when it’s hard.
As always, thank you for being part of this journey with us. I hope you have a restful and positive week ahead, and I look forward to seeing many of you very soon.
Beat wishes,
Abigail Fishbourne
Founding Principal, Ash Mount School
