Visitors to school will notice one of the many improvements to the site that have been made over the summer: the relocation of our reception area. Reception - the first port of call for all visitors to school – is now conveniently situated directly next to the visitors' car park. The larger and brighter reception space will provide a more fitting welcome for visitors, as well as improving safety and accessibility. The project has further enabled the refurbishment of a classroom and the creation of a small meeting room elsewhere in the school. Further information about this and other site developments is available at www.ladymanners.net/sitedevelopment

Following their recent generous donation to school, which made the refurbishment of a science lab possible, the Parents' Association of Lady Manners School are planning ways to replenish funds so that they can help us with future exciting projects. The next event is the Parents' Association Car Boot Sale, which happens here at school this Sunday 8 September. The event starts at 7.30am (7am for sellers) and runs through to midday. The Parents' Association do a wonderful job for the school, and are very keen to find more support. There are many jobs necessary to run a car boot sale from staffing the gate or serving refreshments for a short time, to baking a cake to feed the hungry car booters. Please let the Parents' Association know by emailing them at parentsassociationlms@gmail.com if you can help in any way at all. If you would like to find out more about the Parents' Association, there is further information at www.ladymanners.net/parentsassociation. Alternatively you could attend their forthcoming meeting on Monday 16 September at 7pm at school – all are very welcome.

Today saw the culmination of months of fundraising and development work, as we officially opened our brand new science lab. The funds were raised for this brilliant new facility for our students by parents, staff and students for an inspirational teacher, Mrs Sinnott, who very sadly passed away last year. Mrs Sinnott was passionate about physics and helping her students to embrace the world of physics. The opening ceremony brought together representatives of staff, governors, students, the Parents' Association of Lady Manners School and Mrs Sinnott's family. We would like to thank the Parents' Association, without whose fundraising this project would not have been possible, and the parents, governors, staff, students and friends of the school who so generously donated to the fund and supported the project. It is very clear that this wonderful result would not have been possible without them.

Today was the first day of the new school year for our Year 7 and Year 12 students. The day was devoted to these new students as they met new classmates and form tutors, started to find their way around the school, and experienced their first Lady Manners School lessons. It was lovely to see their excitement and enthusiasm throughout the day. Tomorrow we welcome back our Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 students. We're looking forward to seeing them again after the summer break.

Staff were back in school today (an Inset Day) to make final preparations for the start of the new school year. The premises team, and others, have been very busy over the last six weeks with dozens of projects, big and small, all of which all improve the environment for our students, staff and visitors. We are ready and waiting to meet our Year 7 and Year 12 students on their first day in school on Tuesday 3 September. We look forward to welcoming back all other year groups on Wednesday 4 September.