Updates from Jude

Each week in the newsletter Jude writes a reflection piece.

Below is this week's reflection - scroll down for other topics.

Also see the Positive Education page - one of Jude's passions!

26 July 2024

We have landed in Term 3 with plenty of action afoot!

I hope you all had a chance for some down time / fun time or to experience whatever your family likes to do most over the break.

There is plenty happening in the education sphere with timelines and webinars and updates and you name it popping into the inbox daily at the moment. I've been having a ponder about all of this, naturally, and mainly about our teaching staff. What needs to be kept aside to just in time information as to not overload or what is important to get heads inside now before intended implementation?? - So plenty of sifting of the lumps out of the flour, so to speak.

On the theme of food, many of you will remember our teacher Jenny Cruden. (The best salted caramel cookie maker I know.) Jenny started with us as a Beginning Teacher and was a key part of the teaching team for 4 years, based in the Senior School. I had the joy of catching up with her in her London N1 primary school recently. I just had to take the obligatory selfie of this occasion, as Jenny was the queen of the staff selfie!

As Jenny led me on a tour of the school I could observe the easy relationship she had formed with both children and colleagues, the obvious enjoyment she had in her day to day work and the attention she gave to the different children and what they brought ....... right across the school. Ahhhhh, I thought - although the context is very different to 168 Seatoun Heights Road.... there she is still seeing all of the children as part of her charge, regardless of which part of the school is her home base. Some things stick no matter what hemisphere or realm you may find yourself in! I was pleased.

This then brought me to thinking about the great need for adaptability and flexibility as our teachers work with complexity and uncertainty and put their best foot forward over the coming months. Whilst this term has a big focus on the Performing Arts - a particular flavour of drama needs to be limited as at the end of the day, as I noted with Jenny, regardless of context relationships, professional knowledge and growth, thoughtful and considerate practices are key...... and universal.

When I look at the Code and Standards for the Teaching Profession, that's what we will continue to match ourselves against as we travel on through, catch a headwind when we can and pop the motor on high if the seas get a little choppy at times.

I'm hopeful you will see plenty of examples of this as we continue to keep our school vision and strategic direction at the forefront. Here's to a great term ahead!