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Head’s start .
Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the Mr. Davis, Headteacher, reflects on the week. week.
This week Year 9this gathered the that Assembly It is about time ofinyear I meetHall with for a whole day considering their future. each Head of Department to reviewTothe many summer’s adults thatexam must results. seem like a luxury. As This involves time passes we seem to spend less time plenty of useful and thought-provoking considering the lifebut weit have to come andabout more discussion, is usually talking time lamenting the things we haven’t done orare numbers and letters. Behind this data simplystories: wondering how we will fit our to-do lists how pupils did, how they felt, what into the next 24 hours. Young of course, they liked and what they people, achieved. We can seem oblivious to the realities of the always focus on how things can befuture and why not? Itas is very admirable to be focused improved well as celebrating what went on thewell. here As anda now, appreciating and enjoying Catholic school, exam results are experiences they pass. the unique, Godjust onebefore way of expressing given talents and skills of each pupil. It is The Year 9 day was focused particularly on I am important to look beyond the data so university: what it is, what it looks like, what it delighted that much more of my job involves offers.being It was part of our growing offer of in classes, walking around the school careers and enterprise education. We have and talking to pupils, students and staff. christened this our Horizons programme - a nod to the Ifphrase ‘widest horizons’ on despondent our mission or ever you are feeling at all statement with a pleasingly nautical inflection. T fatigued I reckon a quick tour of the school would quickly raise your spirits. Let me Our pupils are very much charting showand youstudents what I mean. Today (Thursday, a course through school and into the great wideinto September 29th) for instance, I dropped open of life. University is only one of many Year 10 GCSE Music. There, I was possible stopping along the way. I of was delighted to points listen to performances impressed, when I spoke with Year 9, at the Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Hold Back number pupilsand who had a sense of Go where theofRiver When the Saints Marching they would like to go, the course they would In. I also got to sit with Daniel and Chester wish toaschart. Several talkedtheir about they demonstrated prodigious DJing apprenticeships, some werelunch, set onI supervised a specific the talents. Next, during trade or career, others were keen to explore the canteen and made a point of watching university courses, while some could only thinkand interactions that take place daily. Pupils as far staff as the end of Year 11. holding doors open for one another, offering thanks, little moments of personal I thinkappreciation what the dayand reinforced wasOfthe power of gratitude. course, havingthings somedon’t sense of what is possible, an but it always go well in a school, inklingisoflovely the options available and the routes to witness a voluntary apology from that might lead to one them. a Year 9 to of the lunch time staff, or see one pupil help another who is unsure Part ofwhere this connects an assembly I gave to go forto class. recently on ‘finding your why’ - locating a sense of purpose thatForm, goes Ibeyond grades. In Sixth enjoyedexam a lengthy chatOne with of the Aidan innovations we are introducing this who explained both the theoryterm of is a series of recognition and evenings differentiation and its celebration potential commercial for years 7-10. At these events every pupils will application. In English they were studying be celebrated for their achievements and will the play Blood Brothers and talking withbe presented withand a special certificate humour excitement aboutthat superstitions; summarises their progress this year. Part ofnew the in Year 7 RE they were dissecting our process of creating these will be to get the mission statement and exploring the pupils personal to consider their sense of it. purpose: meanings within Schoolhow is a have the choices they have made assisted in busy, bustling, humming place. achieving this goal.
I get to Maths to find all of Year 9 embroiled in a task that is so challenging and exciting that I want to stay and have a go myself. It was very enjoyable to talk about these events Outside it’s: “Sir, have you seen my tie? and other innovations with our Parent Council Can you open my bottle? What did you this week. We discussed the planned pastoral think of last night’s game? What time is it, system changes in some detail as well as Sir?” and, at least once a day, “Oh my addressing concerns that some parents and days!” It can be noisy at times and in a carers had raised. It is such a privilege to share community this size we can’t expect a everyone table withto the members of theother Parent get on with each all Council the and work towards a position where the parents time. But it is our community, and a lively, and carers are fully lovely, positive oneinvolved at that. in decision-making and driving change in the school. Perhaps the single highlight of my week, if I had to pick, would be the conversation I had with Mrs. Fay who is leading the development of our new library. I am a library enthusiast and have been ever since I was little. The furthest reach of my memory is back to moments spent in our local library entranced by its colour and bright possibilities. On Twitter #RememberingMyLibrary theahold One of my highlights of the reveals week was that such an institution has: ‘A library cardI had conversation with a group of Year 8 boys. was a free pass to wonderment, words overheard one of them talking about spinand the ability roam the world’ observes one bowling andtocouldn’t resist joining in. We talked user, whilst another quotes the wrought iron about our favourite cricketers, bowling in-swing of Stalybridge ‘Read, Mark,taken togates left-handed batters, library, how many wickets Learn and Inwardly Digest.’ Others talk of and runs scored this early in the season. the escape that a library represented Talking through our shared enthusiasmor forof the refuge it offered from an unkind world. cricket (I think it is safe to say that they could beat me on skills) was a simple moment or Mrs. Fay spent last Saturday peacefully enjoyment that transcended lessons, our roles stacking the shelves and we are inching in the school and our ages. It spoke to me of closer to that opening. What me was the bonds can exist in thrilled our school and her that comment that several boys, some of whom will develop further as we put our planned affect a in dislike of reading, were electrified by changes place. presence of a library in their school: ‘You mean I can like, read it, Soon I will beborrow writing this to alland, parents and carers Miss?’ was the breathless utterance of one outlining the detail of changes to the pastoral pupil. Our library is at the heart of the system. We will also be holding assemblies for a space for being open to and to allschool: year groups affected by the changes sharing ideas and experiences. It is gather their views and involve them in openplanning. plan and its shelves serve as a reminder Until then, I wish you all a sunny and happy May that holiday. there should be no barrier to anyone Bank using its volumes or seeking knowledge, solace, entertainment or information. I can’t God bless, wait to see it come to life in the weeks ahead thanks to Mrs. Fay and her band of Ben Davis helpers. Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972
it is important to consider our sense of purpose: how have the choices we have made assisted us in achieving our goals?
Ben Davis, Headteacher Twitter: @BenDavis1972
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