09 January 2026

Headmaster's Newsletter, Friday 9th January 2026

Dear Parents

I do hope that all of your children have enjoyed their first few days back at school this week.

In my welcome back assembly, I spoke to the children about New Year’s resolutions and challenged them to reflect on the areas of school life in which they might aim a little higher, or be a little kinder, this year.

What I didn’t share with the children - but will share with you as parents and peers - is my own New Year’s resolution: to spend less time on my phone.

I find it genuinely concerning that even as a fully formed adult, I am still susceptible to the highly addictive nature of my smartphone. I suspect many of you may feel the same. If we, with fully developed brains and life experience, find this technology so difficult to manage, what hope do the young, developing minds of our children have?

The growing body of research into the impact of smartphones and social media continues to point towards worrying consequences for children’s wellbeing and mental health. It is telling that just last month Australia introduced legislation banning social media use for children for precisely these reasons. While it seems unlikely that measures as far-reaching as this will be introduced in the UK any time soon, it makes it all the more important that we, as parents, take responsibility and make informed choices. I genuinely believe this is the defining issue facing this generation of children, and one that requires all of us to stay informed and engaged.

We know that navigating this landscape is not easy, and we want to support you. On Thursday 5 February, I will be joined by members of our pastoral team at Dumpton to deliver an online talk entitled Navigating a Childhood of Screens, Smartphones and Social Media. We hope many of you will find it both informative and practical, and we’ll be sure to record and share the talk too.

In addition, some parents may remember that at last year’s Dumpton Talks I shared insights from Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, a seminal work exploring the impact of screen use on children. Haidt has recently published a new book aimed specifically at 9–12-year-olds, titled The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World. It has quickly reached the top of the bestseller charts and may provide a helpful starting point for meaningful conversations with your children about the role screens play in their lives.

Dumpton Parent Community
It was lovely to chat to parents, old and new, at the Dumpton Friends Coffee Morning this morning. It’s really important to us that the Dumpton parent community is a warm, welcoming and enjoyable community for you all, and I am so grateful to the Dumpton Friends who do so much on this front. I’d encourage all parents to make the most of it, and do sign up to Classlist so you can stay informed. As well as the brilliant new Parent Choir (see below) we have some lovely parent sport you can get involved with too, from Netball (every Wednesday evening) to Football (every Friday evening) and Cricket (in the Summer Term). If you’re interested in finding out more, pop into the school office, or your year group reps can point you in the right direction!

Life Education PSHE workshops
We enjoyed our annual visit from Katie, and her friend Harold the giraffe, from Life Education this week. All pupils from Nursery up to Year 5, took part in a workshop in the Life Education Tent learning about our physical and mental wellbeing with fun activities and interactive lessons. Year 5 also became 'Wellbeing Warriers' with a session on managing social interactions online. All the children were brilliantly engaged and had some fantastically reflective input!

Senior School Assessment Days – Good Luck!
We wish the best of luck to all the Y6 or Y7 pupils who have assessment days coming up, with children heading off to Canford, Bryanston, Clayesmore, Talbot Heath, Winchester College, Eton and Brighton College. It's lovely to see such a wide range of schools, and I have very much enjoyed all the practice interviews I have had this week.

Parents’ Choir – from Ms Oakes
After the amazing performance at the Carol Service, the Parents’ Choir will be continuing this term every Tuesday from 8:20am to 8:50am. We’re really looking forward to seeing familiar faces again — and we’d love to welcome some new ones too! No experience needed, just come along and enjoy singing together.

House Story Writing Competition
The deadline for the Prep School House Story Competition was today, but Mrs Parker is happy to give everyone an extension until Monday should there be any more that are keen to have a go over the weekend!

Road Closure – Smugglers Lane 16 – 20 January
We have been informed by Dorset Council that Smugglers Lane will be closed for maintenance work between the times of 09:00 and 16:00, from Friday 16 January to Wednesday 21 January.

To help things run as smoothly and safely as possible during this time, we will be introducing a one-way system for accessing the school site. Please arrive from the bottom of Burt’s Hill and use the entrance before the Horns Inn to come in via Deans Grove, and the second entrance after the Horns Inn to leave. Members of our staff will be on hand at key times to guide you. Thank you for your patience.

With best wishes for the weekend.