This first half term has been slightly hectic for everyone involved in the great change to the house system. It has been confusing and trying on occasions, but ultimately it gives us a more caring and supportive structure within the school.

I am very pleased with how things have gone in Tallinn house – the house assemblies have presented a few problems, but it is amazing to see how smoothly the plaza is set up for assemblies now. Numerous staff within the leadership team have come and visited us during our assemblies and have commented on the community that we have fostered and how respectful everyone is to each other. The credit for this belongs entirely with you as students of this house – you have embraced the house system and the new structure and joined in appropriately.

It is wonderful to see the form group assemblies each Wednesday; the effort in producing the assembly and the courage to stand up in front of the entire house and truly admirable. It is lovely to see how you support each other during these assemblies and show your appreciation.

Before half term we spent a lot of time developing our identity as a house – we have voted for a house charity from your suggestions and chose Great Ormond Street Hospital, undoubtedly a worthy cause to help children less fortunate than ourselves. There were also a huge number of suggestions for a house motto, so many that I had to narrow the field by unfortunately ruling out some candidates to make a manageable vote. Our chosen motto can be seen displayed on the house notice board, and beautifully sums up the desire to be brave and always try hard rather than just stagnate – "Better to live one year as a tiger than a hundred as a sheep."

We have currently been using a temporary logo and song, but votes for these will follow very shortly – we have the final candidates for the logo, but we are still looking for options for the song to go up against my suggestion of 'Eye of the tiger'.

Things are going well and developing, but there is more to come from the Tallinn house – watch this space!