This week see the Year 10s out on Work Experience. I see this as a really valuable opportunity for them to see what life is like in the "real world" and it is always interesting to speak to their employers after they have been with them for a few days. The students get a chance to shadow individuals and in most cases are able to get some first hand experience of what certain jobs entail. They usually return to school with a greater appreciation of the fact that the world of work is quite tough and a few more years in education often appears increasingly attractive. I very much believe that at Roding Valley we are working hard to get our students ready for the ever competitive job market and I feel that we need to ensure that all of our students are given the tools to succeed. Of course an excellent set of qualifications is what we wish everyone to leave school with but there are other characteristics that I feel are equally important. I want to develop the resilience of all of our students so that they are able to cope with the odd setback. In life there are likely to be things that don't go their way and I see it as part of our remit to prepare them for this. It is crucial that individuals develop a "can-do" approach and are willing to work hard to overcome difficulties. This is why we try to ensure that all students are pushed to produce their best work and make as much progress as possible. Only in this way will they be able to achieve their full potential. I realise that this puts pressure on them but they need to experience this at school if they are to be successful in the world of work. I would like to thank you as parents for supporting us by checking planners and making sure that homework is completed to a high standard. If we work together we can give these young people the chance to make the most of the opportunities that they have. We also set high standards in terms of students behaving in a polite and sensible manner. I have referred to my expectations in Assemblies and make no apology for the fact that students are required to speak to each other and to staff in a polite, respectful way. If students are caught using foul language it will lead to them losing some of their free time as there is no place for this in an educational establishment. We must ensure that highest standards in this respect if we are to be considered an Outstanding school. J Luck Headteacher
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