Wednesday 31 May 2017

Academy Partnerships - enriching for all

I was delighted to see Canford included in the latest partnerships booklet from the Independent Schools Council celebrating the work of independent schools with those in the maintained sector http://bit.ly/2oO9WAd.  It is perhaps not as well known as it should be that Canford is one of only a handful of independents who have successfully fully sponsored an Academy – The Bourne Academy in East Howe, Bournemouth.  

Staff at both schools are proud of what has been achieved since the Academy opened its doors to pupils aged 11-16 back in 2010, with a Sixth Form opening 3 years later.   GCSE results in 2016 saw the A*-C rate first equal among non-selective Bournemouth schools and the 100% A*-E rate at A level ensured that all UCAS applicants were accepted by their first-choice universities.  Attendance figures continue to be well above the national average.   Outside the classroom the Academy continues to attract an outstanding list of visiting speakers, and events such as the Digital Horizons launch aimed at 15-18 years olds strengthened links between education and industry.

Former or present staff, parents and governors still form the majority of governors at the Academy and the relationship between our two schools continues to grow, with each gaining excellence from the other.   Teach First teachers continue to spend a week at Canford, and a Canford teacher taking her PGCE was able to do her second school experience at the Academy.   The first joint INSET last year saw Canford and Academy staff discussing ‘Improving Outcomes’ with sessions led by staff from both schools on their areas of expertise.

Our pupils continue to spend time at each other’s schools as well, enjoying learning together on projects such as F24.   We have welcomed seven Academy pupils so far into our Sixth Form.  It is very important to me that Canfordians leave with a sense of responsibility, of empathy towards others and with a real desire to make a difference to their own lives and to the lives of others.  Through our sponsorship of The Bourne Academy, the lives of pupils and staff at both schools have been enriched.  


Thursday 11 May 2017

Stepping up to the exam challenge with confidence

“I’ve always taken an approach to just get on with the job.”

So says Theresa May and her words strike a chord with me, even if I don’t agree with all of her policies.  With the exam ‘season’ now upon us, I think it is important to reflect on just how hard we are working in independent schools across the country within an ever shifting educational landscape.

Schools are currently tackling significant operational changes such as a major reform of examination systems and more strategic matters such as what is the right ‘type of school’ to best educate our young people – grammar school, free school, academy and so on.  In the independent sector we are working hard to protect the freedom of decision making and action that we currently enjoy and use so effectively “to get on with the job”.  

Alongside the academic and intellectual there is a heightened importance on developing soft skills, building mental toughness, and supporting the well-being of both pupils and staff in an age where the pressures of social media and an ever increasing demand for instant communication and transmission of information has significantly increased the impact of workload expectations, stress and accompanying mental health issues.

We could not “get on with the job” effectively for our pupils without the dedication and commitment of our staff.  Teaching staff shortages have been well documented in the press and statistics show shortfalls across a wide range of subject areas, such as STEM, Humanities, MFL and the Creative Arts.  We are fortunate to attract high quality staff and it is fundamentally important to us that we support their professional development.  A recent joiners’ ‘post induction’ feedback process at Canford revealed that this commitment is highly recognized and much valued.

For pupils sitting external examinations this summer, I hope that that sense of purpose, intellectual curiosity and the blend of those soft skills of self-discipline, resilience, leadership and teamwork, which we work so hard as educators to instil will combine to ensure that those facing the public exam challenge step up as individuals and support and spur each other on collectively to achieve their very best.