SIMON BARBER
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Headteacher, Ludgrove School, Berkshire
ou always remember a good teacher is a phrase that’s been commonplace since the advent of education. There are many reasons why teachers are remembered but fundamentally it is in the classroom where a teacher earns their respect, and the challenge facing headteachers is to recruit, nurture and invest in talented members of staff. There is much debate about how we can promote pupils’ happiness and wellbeing, good teaching lies at the heart of this. It’s the staff who will help children realise their potential, as well as enjoy their time at school. Education in the 21st century is as much about building character and confidence as it is about knowledge and skills. All are intertwined, and when given the right support, every child should be able to prosper. In my first year as a Headmaster, I was asked in a staff appraisal which I considered to be the most important to a school – the pupils, the parents, or the teachers? Perhaps rather naively, my response was that all are equally important for a happy school. But, of course, happy children and parents are the objective of every school, however this aim is completely unachievable without happy, ambitious and inspirational staff.
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At Ludgrove, pastoral care lies at the heart of everything we do, and our fortnightly exeats allow us to establish a wonderful balance between school and home life. We are unashamedly ambitious for every pupil and proud of our strong academic record, with over 70% of our boys going on to Eton, Harrow, Radley and Winchester. Underpinning everything is our staff. They are the role models, and the ones who allow the boys’ confidence to develop in a caring, supportive environment, enabling
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independentschoolparent.com | SUMMER 2018
THOSE WHO CAN, TEACH
Simon Barber explains why investing time and money in talented, passionate teachers is worth every penny friendships and good manners to flourish in an atmosphere of happiness and kindness. In essence, they are the lifeblood of the school.
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Going above and beyond for your pupils is what transforms a good teacher into an exceptional one, and investing properly in talented staff is at the core of a successful school. This investment comes in many shapes and forms, the most obvious being remuneration. However, a teacher must also feel that the school is somewhere they enjoy working, with opportunities to explore and improve their skills. Every member of staff must feel appreciated, happy in their workplace and proud to be part of the team. In fact, when the “Beast from the East” arrived back in February, three of our incredible cleaning
Above, both schools and pupils rely on talented teachers in order to thrive
team walked an hour through the snow just to get into work! It is currently a very exciting time to be a teacher, as the way in which a curriculum can be delivered has been metamorphised by the digital age. While there continues to be much debate about the best way to teach and assess children, one thing is irrefutable – children enjoy success, and an inspirational teacher will instil in their pupils a love of learning. By encouraging peer-to-peer mentoring, lesson observations, CPD training and sharing best practice, a school can truly maximise its teaching potential and at the same time develop its teachers. All staff in a school should be aspirational for the children as well as themselves, and Headteachers should leave no stone unturned to promote these aspirations.