School That Matters: Invitation and Opening our Doors
St. Teresa of Calcutta, one of the great modern-day saints, famously observed ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’ In doing so she was recognising that we are invited to participate in the world in whatever way we can. Whilst many people might make demands of us, God’s message is one that tells us we a good enough as we are and that all of us have something unique, important and special to offer the world and other people.
This message is especially apparent at our annual Open Evening and in the tours that follow it, all of which take place during the school day. Our message to parents and carers is similarly clear and straightforward: your child is welcome here and, by extension, so are you. This year our Open Evening was attended in unprecedented numbers. We had printed 500 information packs – all had been given out within 20 minutes of the event starting and still the queue was huge. For me, the most important people at Open Evening are the youngsters who have come to look around and the young people who are showing them. The honest questions, the utter enthusiasm, the total dedication to telling the story of the school are all uplifting to see and hear.
This week’s newsletter showcases a small number of things that drive the enthusiasm guests will have seen in our pupils on Open Evening. As the first half-term of year heads towards its close, it is great to see that so much is underway and pupils are fully engaged in learning within and beyond the classroom. This week has also seen pupils contribute to vital national research into school attendance and the impact of school of young people. In addition we have hosted workshops on the Social Media Effect for Year 10 and a lecturer from Salford University presented to history pupils in Key Stage 4, greatly enhancing their subject knowledge, while other pupils have benefited from working with Cap Gemini to gain an insight into international business.
Ben Davis,
Headteacher
