Those of you who have had to suffer it in previous years
will know that my final blog of each year usually sees me in contemplate mood,
often bemoaning my own fate, or the state of the world in general. Although this July finds me equally
contemplative, I want to use this space simply to give out some messages of
well-wishing, fare well and thanks.
Once again, we have managed to couple a year of some
outstanding results – highest ever key stage 2 writing, EYFS, Y1PSC to name a
few – with the real nadir of my time at Badock’s which was our November 2016
OfSTED report. Please don’t think for a
heartbeat that I am about to moan on whine in any way, so you might want to
continue reading just a moment or two longer.
It would be all too easy to wallow in the pitfalls of what
has befallen us. However, there are a
number of mental snapshots I cherish from this year that mean it will still
occupy a fond place in my memory. Our
fireworks bonanza, key stage 2’s production of the snow queen, winning the BCC
Chess tournament, singing at the Colston Hall,
playing instruments very loudly in the Early years Christingle, the
monumental support offered by our community, the endless procession of work and
smiles that make each and every day something special, something
different. It most certainly was not all
bad.
To the community, it cannot have been easy or pleasant to
hear the messages about your school coming out of the OfSTED report, and the
subsequent meetings or letters. However,
the unwavering support we received right from the Friday night of publication,
and for many weeks beyond, will always stay in my memory. Furthermore, the support that was then
forthcoming through the events that go with such a judgement – TV cameras at
the gates, newspaper reports appearing without our comments – was stoically
defensive, and meant that it became much easier to continue doing the job we
all love. I hope to bring you better
news in times to come, and to share greater successes with you all.
To our volunteers, including our amazing Buddies of Badocks,
never has it been more important to seek support from outside the staffing
body. Thankfully, due to all of your
immense efforts, from organising quite wonderful events such as the Summer
Party, to our reading buddies who quietly give our children so much time and
attention, there are even more things to celebrate in our school. I hope I have communicated this with you all
in various ways, but you are enormously valued and appreciated – thank you so
much.
To the governors, who have this year faced more than in
possibly any other year of my tenure, we cannot thank you enough for your calm
but purposeful leadership of the school, and the way in which you have
supported and challenged us all, me especially, to look at things in a
different way when required. Even during
last week’s marathon governors’ meeting, I knew that, behind every searching
question and every open challenge, the very best interests of the school were
quietly lurking, and therefore, in a strange kind of way, I actually enjoyed
it. Nationally, governance in general
gets bad press, but, as we have found for a number of years, that is not our
experience. Thank you all,
enormously.
To my colleagues, firstly, the fact that we have made it to
the end of this year with both improved results and almost negligible absence
is a credit to you all. Secondly, I have
never ever questioned you determination and commitment and I think the
professionalism I have seen in recent months has been an example for many
others. Please do not think that any of
the decisions I have made in recent weeks are a reflection on this, as they
most certainly are not. I would just say
that it is my job to make these difficult decisions, and they are all rooted in
bringing about the changes we will undoubtedly need in order to bring about the
successful outcomes we all crave. But
you can forget about those for a few weeks, whilst you enjoy a thoroughly
deserved holiday and break. Wherever and
however you spend your summer, I cannot wish you are more peaceful and
enjoyable time if I tried. You go on
your myriad travels with nothing but my most humble respect, and my most
sincere thanks.
To those colleagues who are set to leave us, I hope you will
look back on your time at Badock’s with enormous fondness, and that we can take
pride in but a little part played in your successful journeys from here
onwards. You have all brought so much to
the school, and given of yourselves, and I hope our gratitude remains with you
until you embark on your next exciting adventure and beyond.
Finally, and the fact that this remains the centre of our
world has never once left me, the children.
I have so much to say. So much in
my mind and in my heart that I, for once, am somewhat lost for words. I guess I just need to say what I need to
say, which is:
I am so sorry we were found wanting in November, and I am
sorry you had to read and hear bad things about your school.
I am so humbled that you managed this situation with dignity
far beyond your years, and have played a full part in making our school better
again.
I am so grateful for the work you put into our school every
day.
Above all, I am proud to be your Headteacher, and because of
you, have managed to enjoy, in my own weird way, the challenges we have faced
together in recent months.
And to our year 6 leavers, the young people you have grown
into have impressed us all, and we take great delight in enjoying the amazing
individuals you have become. Thank you
for the laughs, the jokes, the hugs, and the steely determination to make it
all right again. I wish you nothing but
the very, very best in your academic careers going forwards.
You all know how much I love my music and my reading, my
poetry and philosophy. Recently, I was
very struck by this quote from one of my favourite philosophers, someone who has
been around the block a few times, and, until recently, was almost as grey as
me. This is what he said:
“Winning? Is that what you think it’s about? I’m not trying to win. I’m not doing this because I wanna beat
someone or because I hate someone, or because I wanna blame someone. It’s not because it’s fun, and it certainly
isn’t easy. It’s not even because it
works because it hardly ever does.
I do what I do because I think it’s right.”
That’s right. At
times like these, turn to Dr Who.
In conclusion, for another summer at Badock’s – my tenth in
fact – I will conclude by using the words of another one of my great
philosophers, Australian singer-songwriter Josh Pyke. If I could wish anything for each of you
after this year, it would be this:
If I could bottle up the sea breeze
I would bring it over to your house
And pour it loose through your garden.
With more gratitude than I ever thought I was capable of, I
humbly thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Have the most wonderful, peaceful, restful,
joyful summer. Everyone, breathe, and
relax.
Until September, that is all.
