...and along came Ferndale.

The phone call came out of the blue. It was mid-May and fifteen minutes later the LA Director was sat in my Office asking if I would consider becoming an Executive Head i.e. Headteacher of two Schools: Goddard Park, and now also Ferndale which is due to be a Primary in September on the amalgamation of the current Infants and Junior Schools. Ferndale just happened to be my own Junior School from 1959 to 1961, so it was no contest really, and after meeting with the Governors and the blessing of my own, a year's agreement was set up. My working week now reaches 80 hours and climbing. Brilliant support from the retiring Junior Acting Head, Judith. Thank you. There is an enormous difference between an amalgamation and a successful amalgamation. Creating a new School - in this case Ferndale Community Primary School - requires in depth work on staffing (especially a good set of drivers in the new Senior Leadership Team) and a new and positive culture, raising confidence and a level of excitement. This has also to pervade children and parents. A new school colour/uniform/learning environment helps establish a sense of identity. I'm very pleased with the response I'm getting from Staff (new and old)and Governors, and there's a palpable sense of positive progress from the Parents I'm meeting. Had a great awayday with the Staff. Still a lot to do and achieve before September, but we have momentum. Did someone mention a summer holiday?

Rovar, Norway

Took a boat from Haugersund in western Norway to the island of Rovar. It was about 30 minutes, and then arriving on an island of 100 people. Rovar School has seventeen pupils aged 6-16 years. As it happens most are currently boys. The dedicated teachers enjoy the small numbers and can really personalise learning. The older children were engaged on a topic about WWII. Each of these five pupils took their own themes such as Anne Frank, or Norwegians who suffered in the occupation. The School is due to take part in a European Comenius project with up to 14 other schools.
The School had contributed a great deal of research in the island Museum which focuses on a tragedy. 30 islanders were lost when their boat sank on returning to the island from a funeral. This decimated the community for many years. Herring fishing had been a major industry, but tourism is now a significant earner. Local people are justifiably proud of the island and its heritage, but recognise that youngsters often want to spend time in Haugersund. Thank you to Marit and Marit and the rest of the staff for a compelling experience.

Time, time, time...

Apologies for not posting recently, but time pressures remain intense. The last six months have been very busy with major changes at school including a new playground; the Adventure Zone. This was the result of the Schools Council finding out what the children enjoyed and thought could be improved in school. They tried out play areas in other schools, interviewed three companies, and made a presentation to Governors. The Zone is working well. It opened at the same time as the introduction of Huff and Puff sessions of small play equipment. With the Astro multi-use games area this makes for a rotation for each year group to access the Zones. Other areas include quiet seating areas. Now we are looking to develop further garden areas.

OFSTED

Well we waited six years for our OFSTED and it arrived in June 2007. After being a 'good school' in 1997, and a 'very effective school' in 2001, together with outstanding for our extended services in 2006, we received the 'phone call and started the couple of days lead up to the latest forensic Inspection. We were absolutely delighted therefore to be identified as 'a good school with eleven Outstanding features'. This was an immense boost for our children, staff and parents. It reflects the commitment, professionalism and impact the school is having in its community.
The Governors - who were termed Outstanding - have organised a celebratory drink this Friday when staff can let their hair down.
.....and the Head, well he was termed 'inspirational' in the OFSTED Report, so he will be joining in with a glass of wine as well.

An amazing journey.

Well from being in School on Tuesday of half-term i received a phone call about an emergency with our twin school in Nairobi and they wanted me there urgently. So Veronicah made all of the bookings on Tuesday night and on Wednesday morning I was on a BA flight to Jomo Kenyatta International. On Thursday I met with the Trustees and later in the day we appointed a new Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher to the Desai Memorial Primary School. This was key point in the school's history and I have been going to Nairobi for some nine years now as part of a lifetime commitment to 400 of the poorest children each year in the Kawangware slum of western Nairobi.

Whilst in Nairobi I met up with my wife's family and it was great to see everyone. I also met up with Deiter and his delightful partner, Lorna. We had a very pleasant lunch at his flat in Westlands on Saturday. I arrived back at Heathrow at 6am and was in School for 8.30am.

In School at half term

In school today with Mrs Mann, Mrs Chivers, Mrs Godfrey, and Mrs Millin together with several other staff. It would be good for the general public to know how much 'holiday' time staff actually spend in school working away to prepare for the next term and make it a successful one for our children.
Our Rainbow Garden is flourishing and is the first of several gardens in school which the children through the School Council are helping to develop.

The blackboard

Children in our twin school, the Desai Memorial Primary, Nairobi, moved from one rented ste to another in 1998 taking anything they could carry with them. Peter James took this photograph, and then the boys walked straight into a stall scattering all and sundry. They were very excited about the school surviving.

4 + 4

Moving into the term break we are fully staffed for September with four new teachers from a high quality field.

Rwanda and back

Bev Mann, Deputy Head, is shortly on her way to work with a school in Rwanda. She will be there for twelve weeks as part of a NAHT/VSO national pilot: 'International Extended Placements for School Leaders'. The staff and children are looking forward to hearing about her experiences.

The FA Cup Final

The one day of the year I have to be collected by my daughter, Zoe, after enjoying the annual tradition of a few drinks and a good lunch with football mates in a pub in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Last year's Final was the best for many seasons so Man Utd and Chelsea have something to live up to.

Heidi and Andy commit again

Heidi and Andy repeated their recent West Country wedding vows in Andy's local Dunfermline Abbey. It is always good to visit Fife and next day we went to Pittenweem and saw the trawlers in the harbour. These were back from unimaginable hardships during fishing trips around the Faroe Islands. I adore Cod, but we take for granted our fishing heritage. The demise of the fishing fleets also comes from coping with land-based hardships as in quotas and financial pressures. We live in fast-changing times.

The telephone call

Telephoned by a colleague Head and NAHT member (this happens between 4-5 times a month). Having a real difficulty with over zealous and misguided Governors failing to support her. They should back the professional judgment of the Head. The Head has legal responsibility for the day-to-day organization and management of the school within strategic policies agreed by the Governors (not individual Governors!). A good relationship between Head and Governors is essential to the positive development of schools. Heads have an exposed position, yet are key to children's attainment and achievement. The Governors need to show a duty of care towards the Head.

Interviews

Yesterday was the start of 'Interview season'. In a rare occurrence (even with a 430 pupil Primary) we have more than one vacancy as some staff are moving (New Zealand, Stoke-on-Trent, Bournemouth, Spain) mostly to live with partners. Their expressed sadness at leaving is quite genuine and we shall miss them. So its Job Specs, expensive adverts in the TES (Times Educational Supplement) and less expensive adverts online (e-teach).
Interviews include Governors as a key part of the process. Each short-listed candidate has to demonstrate the practical craft of teaching as well as an in-depth interview searching theoretical understanding, practical approach, and most importantly attitude and emotional literacy.
The last is vital in that we can teach people the skills and craft of teaching, but what is far more difficult is to change attitudes to the positive, to have team players, and to develop children’s attitudes in the same way: to encourage a love and thirst for learning, and being independent learners.
We have started to grow our own teachers now with a route of personal endeavour and fulfilment. Carmen’s journey included City and Guild's in English and Maths Level 2, NVQ2, NVQ3, Foundation Degree, B.Ed (Hons), and now Graduate Teacher Programme. Shortly, she will be a fully qualified teacher with several years experience as a teaching assistant, and higher-level teaching assistant. The girls football team she helps out with have just won the schools’ league. Her work with young children is electric, and the children in her class will make very good progress.
This illustrates what Goddard Park is all about: everybody learns, everybody cares.

Choir

Miss Davis and Miss Biston were working with the school choir after school. Just as I entered the Hall to see what they were singing I heard the dulcet tones of 'Oh Shenandoah'. The children were surprised to see me joining in. I first sang this as a fifteen year old in the legendary David Shepherd inspired pantomimes at Kingsdown Comprehensive, Stratton St Margaret in the mid-1960's. The choir followed this with 'What shall we do with a drunken sailor,' another timeless sea shanty and one which they clearly enjoyed.

Superstars

A brilliant set of letters from some children in Years 5 and 6 to tell me how much they are enjoying using and being challenged by a new computer program: educationcity.com A collegue Head in Wigan put me on to this and the pupils agree.

Gay Meadow

Last night's Shrewsbury v Milton Keynes Dons League Two play off game was the final match to be played at Gay Meadow before a move to their new stadium. I remember travelling with my family when Swindon Town played there in the 1950's. We went by Rimes Coaches with the other fans including a refreshment stop in each direction. When the ball went over one stand it landed in the River Severn and a man went out in a coracle to collect it.
I went there this season with my wife, Veronicah, and we were pleased to come away with a 2-1 win. Although I am sure the facilities, access, seating and sightlines will be much improved, the working-class heritage of the Gay Meadows of English football are often missed, in the move to slightly soulless 21st Century arenas. Perhaps in time they will develop their own style and character.

The first three hours

6.00-6.30am Watch BBC Breakfast to check on the school issue of the day (sadly, its child cancer today)

*7.45am Arrive at School
Say ‘Hello’ to Breakfast Club
Switch on computer and connect new printer lead
Find 27 e-mails and deal with six most pressing ones
Speak to three Class teachers
Receive breakfast of All Bran and raisins
See Site Supervisor to check on any weekend concerns and arrange setting up of new television
Check SAT papers are intact
Go to coffee bar and see Family Support Worker
8.40 children start school. Greet Year 1 and 2 children.
8.45 See Parent and friend about alleged playground issue
9.00 Go to Year 6 and give pep talk to our 60 pupils before first of
KS2 SATS tests with Science Papers A and B
9.30 Meet with Deputy Head, Assistant Head (Extended Services),
and Bursar to go through the week’s school business
10.00 Go to each of the four early years education and daycare rooms.
Real confusion in the Butterflies room as some children say, ‘Hello Mr Welsh’, but as my grandson, Miles, is in the room he calls me ‘Bampy’ as now do some of the other three year olds – goodness knows what will happen with this increasingly clever lot when they get to Nursery and Reception. One child went as far as ‘Mr Bampy Welsh’ last week! Staff could hardly contain themselves.
Congratulate member of staff on brilliant ‘sea’ display.
10.20 Check and sign twenty two authorisations for curriculum,
premises, catering and extended services expenditure and invoice payments
10.30 Coffee while writing letter to Parent about premises concern
*10.45 Observe breaktime.
Many short conversations and telephone calls along the way.

Left school at 6pm
Read and write for two hours.

Mother's Day

Florence Lilian Edith Welsh was born in August 1909 in Swindon, daughter of George Wiiliam Price and Florence Agnes Price. She was second oldest of eleven surviving children. My Mum went to Clarence Street School. As a child she was both clever and adventurous, coming down the steep Victoria Road on a bicycle with no brakes. She left school on a Friday and on the Saturday became the under under Chambermaid in the Gloucester Hotel on the front at Weymouth. In the early 1930's she met my Dad, Arthur James (Jim) Welsh when he was in the Royal Navy in Portland. They married, and after Dad went off to serve in WW11 she eventually moved back to swindon with my brother Jimmy. As the men were absent from many posts in the Great Western Railway, women took over several rail jobs. My Mum became part of a team cleaning engine boilers. At another stage the family took in evacuees. After the War and having had me as part of the baby-boomer generation Mum continued with her career as a Cook with long-term work in Swindon's Isolation Hospital and later The Crown, a Berni Inn. She brought up my niece Carol as my sister from the age of four days old. I remember Mum had beautiful 'copperplate' handwriting. She also enjoyed snooker and darts on the tv having herself been a Swindon Ladies Team Darts Champion. She was a great supporter of Swindon Town Football Club. As a grandmother she loved seeing her grandchildren. Mum died in 1988. She is much missed, but never forgotten. Keep cycling Mum!

'Fracture'

Anthony Hopkins is always a good performer, and in his latest film, 'Fracture', he doesn't disappont. It is though that rather intelligent, clever personna, of a driven 'Lecter-style' character. The plot is in itself clever, with only a small fall in pace in a couple of places. Josh and his Dad were on their way to 'Spiderman', so it was, "Hello, Mr Welsh" and a big smile, which I always find pleasing. They joined a very long queue!

Teachers TV

Teachers TV were filming in Goddard Park this week. They interviewed children, staff and parents trying to gain a view on whether Every Child Matters and our Extended Services had measurable impact on our children's attainment. The outcome was that there was no simplistic relationship with say SAT results. The most encouraging material was based around individual case studies of where progress by children had been directly related to either high quality early years education and daycare or engagement by parents with family learning programmes. Other positive work is attached to the work of specific staff as with speech and language therapy and the removal of obstacles to learning. A whole day's filming will probably result in 10 minutes programme content. As usual the children simply cotinued with their work. They are very used to visitors! Channel 4 are coming later in the month.