Newsletters
Read below a sample of our 2026 January Term school newsletters:
Spirit of the Banda – Week 01
As the new terms begins, we are able to celebrate the first scholarship awards of the year from our Year 8 pupils – huge congratulations to both Naima (Round Square Scholarship to Brookhouse) and Des (Drama Scholarship to Braeburn School). We wish the pupils attending scholarship assessment days at Peponi and Hillcrest over the next few days the very best of luck.
Our value for this half of term is resilience; a really vital skill for us all to focus on and develop. In our first assembly of term, I shared with the pupils an analogy of a tomato and a tennis ball.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 02
As we settle back into the rhythm of term time, there is a palpable sense of purpose and calm about the school. Whilst the spontaneity of the holidays can be great, there is a profoundly good feel that comes with the return of a structured routine. For children especially, a consistent daily routine lowers anxiety and provides a secure setting in which they can take risks, be creative and thrive. This collective heartbeat of school life fosters a sense of belonging and shared momentum and unites the school community.
This return to routine tied in well with a brilliant assembly delivered this morning by Mrs Ireri who talked about how to form good habits and break bad ones. Do ask your children if they’re going to adopt any of the strategies she mentioned.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 03
Just as we encourage our pupils to adopt a growth mindset, so it is important that we model this as adults. By fostering an environment where we all continually ask ‘how can we do this better?’, we ensure that our school remains a place of genuine excellence and collective ambition.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 04
It was fantastic to be able to welcome one of The Banda’s original pupils into school for assembly this morning. Kate Gibson was one of seven children who were here when the school was founded in 1966 and she shared some great memories, including the Baboon Bell, hiding in the classrooms when there were lions on site and the rhino that used to scratch itself on a post at the school gate!
Mrs Haywood also shared some great memories with us about the School’s history, alongside some photos of some of the buildings from sixty years ago, some of the first whole school photos and some brilliant photos of several former pupils in their Banda schooldays who are now here as teachers. We look forward to celebrating The Banda’s 60th Anniversary with events later this term.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 05
With the mid-point of the year approaching, it has been brilliant to see the growth in our Year 8 pupils since September. With the aim of giving them all the opportunity for increased responsibility and leadership opportunities, we have set up a number of committees for them to make a difference around the school.
Of particular note have been the Sustainability Committee and the Pegasus Committee. The former have raised awareness of relevant issues and encouraged pupils to make a difference at a local level; whilst the latter have devoted time to being with the school’s youngest members, both playing with them and reading to them. The committees have been led by our superb team of prefects and it was great to be able to add to their number this week, with the appointment of Nula and Darcey; very many congratulations to both of them.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 06
Spirit of the Banda – Week 08
We continue to receive news of success from our Year 8s who have applied for scholarships to their chosen senior schools. Many congratulations to the following who have gained awards to schools in the UK: Erin (Academic Scholarship to St George’s Weybridge), George (Art Scholarship to Sherborne) and Michael (Sports Scholarship to Monkton Combe). We look forward to announcing more in the very near future.
It was great to welcome musicians from the Rift Valley Academy into school today and for our pupils to collaborate with them, culminating in a wonderful concert this afternoon.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 09
It’s a busy weekend ahead with our girls’ Under 13 and Under 11 hockey players in action at Kenton in their IAPS hockey tournament – the very best of luck to everyone involved. We also have The Banda Ball tomorrow evening in celebration of the school’s sixtieth anniversary and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
Spirit of the Banda – Week 10
Staff, parents and alumni gathered last Saturday for The Banda Ball to celebrate 60 years of the school. It was a brilliant event – huge thanks to Sian Mousley and her team for bringing it all together. We are delighted that we managed to raise the very impressive total of Ksh 1,008,000 through our raffle. This money will be donated towards Friends of Dagoretti Children, the Kenya Red Cross and the Banda Book Box appeal. We will be in touch with further information with regards to how the funds will be spent.
