Back to School - Sunmarke

We were delighted to welcome students back to Sunmarke School for the start of the new academic year. Despite record numbers of new students, the whole school community were wonderful in adhering to the new KHDA Protocols, and we had a smooth start to the year. All students have settled into their new classes and there is a wonderful atmosphere in the school as we anticipate a great year ahead. – Dr. Neil Hopkin, Principal, Sunmarke School.

 We are delighted to inform you that the start of the new year has gone smoothly at Sunmarke School. Final preparations for the recently released new KHDA Protocols were completed in time for all students and families to feel well informed about the new requirements for school. Perhaps most significant amongst these is a return to face-to-face learning for all students from 3rd October. This is a major step in the return to being together again and it is probably the most significant benefit for both students and teachers. Whilst technological advances have made hybrid and remote learning a possibility, no educator believes that it can replace the value of face-to-face learning. The central importance of community, collaboration and cooperation to the learning endeavour cannot be facilitated in the same way unless we are actually truly together, and the new protocols recognise and enable this understanding.

At Sunmarke School, we believe that it is important to recognise that being together again is a privilege and one which must be treated conscientiously. Strict adherence to protocols is required and we have examined and implemented the new protocols. Student health and welfare remains our top priority so that our students’ outstanding academic achievement is maintained. This year we gained record results in IB, A Level, GCSE and BTEC examinations and this was a direct result of our enviable online learning platform, high-quality teaching and unique signature programmes. However, we recognise that preparing our students for a sparkling future requires more than these programmes alone. Students need the ‘soft’ elements of school to be equally outstanding: the pastoral care, physical exercise and wellbeing programme is just as important to children’s development as the other more ‘traditional’ aspects of education.

I am excited, it’s really good to see new faces, new teachers, new people, looking forward to this year, hopefully I’ll get good results. -Riley, Year 11, Sunmarke School

The pandemic has taught us all the importance of mental and physical wellbeing, and Sunmarke School’s world class Positive Education programme is the perfect way to address a child’s whole development, whether they are 8 or 18. Developed over years in conjunction with the creators of Positive Education, we have refined our wellbeing programme to prepare our children for whatever life throws at them. No one expected the scale of the pandemic, or the repercussions of the subsequent necessary responses, but our programme served to, and continues to, protect our children’s resilience in the most demanding of circumstances.

I am most excited about coming back to business and also about psychology because we have new teacher. -Victoria, Year 11, Sunmarke School

The new academic year promises to mark a significant step closer to the normality of years gone by, but we have learnt much from the intervening months. We cherish the privilege of being together more, we exploit the benefits of being able to interact, challenge and collaborate more, we are exhilarated by the opportunity to run, compete, play and perform more. In short, we delight in being together more as we start another year of amazing learning and achievement at Sunmarke School.