15 February 2020

Image of Principal’s Blog #6

The secret of happiness

Since I first heard it a decade ago, I defer to Daniel Kitson’s definition of happiness. ‘Happiness is having something to look forward to – and then something after that’. This always works for me. With a half term behind us where nearly every day we had so much extra to look forward to in school, our hard-working students and tired teachers can look forward to a break. They certainly deserve it. If you have a few minutes to spare just have a look over our twitter timeline. What a great story it tells. We are truly a school where so much exciting opportunity exists. There is always something to look forward to – and something after that.

It's been a great half term. 2020 has started positively with many highlights. For brevity, I’ll pick out two. The school performance of ‘Oliver’ was exceptional – one of our best ever. Three nights to showcase a very talented group of performers from across the age range. It felt a privilege to be there – and given the amount of positive feedback we have had – I was not the only one to feel this way. The cast and all the backstage students and staff are to be congratulated. There is a great maturity in their performance. It’s good to see the potential emerging in the performances of our children.

The library continues to thrive under the guidance and leadership of Mrs Livesey. In the last two weeks we have seen our second week-long White Water Writers project based there(another group of published authors on the way!), we staged our new look Open Mic at break and lunchtime and have had a visit from author Stewart Foster. The library is developing a new energy. Situated at the heart of our school, it is great to see it busy with regular book worms and increasing its literary community with some new faces. Great work Mrs Livesey.

A picture paints a thousand words

I’ve enjoyed watching the first wave of SLT INSPIRE assemblies. This week my assemblies have explored the theme of communication. A broad and deep subject to delve into. There have been many powerful messages and metaphors for the students to contemplate. I used the images from Istvan Banyai’s book ‘Zoom’ in the opening of assembly.  If you are not familiar with this mesmerising book, one of its central themes is that there is always a bigger picture. Something greater than is first seen. That the ability to ‘zoom’ out above what is first seen to gain greater understanding is an essential life skill.  I asked the students to consider – ‘When we look, what do we see?’ Throughout the assembly they then considered a diverse set of images that this question was pitched against. The point of this? Thinking is its own reward. Don’t let others cloud your view. In our contemporary society, often described in the media as a ‘post-truth world’, it strikes me that every opportunity for independent thought is an opportunity that should be taken. Some people may think it a risk to present images without context. Fortunately, I don’t. It is essential to present children with the space to think. To look for meaning without bias. Then to consider a bigger picture.

Let's put a thousand words into a picture

At the end of assemblies this week I have read the school a story. Something you may associate more with Primary School education than secondary school. The ending of the story – of Kobayashi and his victory against all odds – is deliberately open to interpretation. The students should decide it’s meaning. It is, however, a metaphor-heavy story about breaking internal limits. About breaking through into the wide open space beyond expectations that we and others place on us. There are no limits to what you can achieve. If you dig deep enough, you have all the resources you need. There is always a choice.

We look forward to next half term with optimism. Have a great half term break.

Mr. Fraser


The Learning Partnership