If you can read this, thank a teacher.

One of my favourite quotes of thanks for teachers is ‘If you can read this, thank a teacher’ and this twist appealed! 

I read with interest a recent Times' article this weekend which discussed the problem in many primary schools for boys. It highlighted  that male primary school teachers are basically an endangered species and the importance of male role models for both boys and girls during their education.  I very much agree with this and at St. Peter’s we are very lucky to have both male and female teaching staff who can shape those young minds every day.  A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Teacher Appreciation week with a surprise breakfast for the teaching staff and also the support staff, catering, maintenance and the cheerful army of bus drivers without whom the school simply would not run.

And so I invite you this week to recognise and appreciate the wonderful staff that we have at St. Peter’s.  In and out of the classroom, planning creative and interesting lessons, activities and trips to extend and develop interest and learning, the teachers go above and beyond. There is a  strong emphasis on supportive, kind pastoral care where the form teachers, led by Mr Lord and Mrs Ball, go out of their  way to respond immediately to any problem. Ms Smith in the Learning Success department ensures that no child is overlooked and that every child, whatever their ability, makes progress and achieves the best they can and Mrs Tyson steers the preparation and provides advice for children and parents on a huge range of senior schools, ensuring the quality of tracking information which means that no child slips through the net.

Children leave here as high achievers, academically strong with high expectations and senior schools welcome and appreciate St. Peter's children. This week, on visiting Taunton School, we heard of our children, now pupils at the school who were experienced in communication and presentation throughout our Baccalaureate, impressing teachers and staff with their articulacy and confidence.  The children who enter from St. Peter’s are some of the top in the year group and the extremely high standard of work they complete in Years 7 & 8 here stands them in very good stead as they enter Senior Schools in Year 9 and start preparing for GCSEs.  

As our Head of Art leaves this half term for a ‘reccy (no complaints from her)’ in Rome, plans are already being put in place for full immersion for year 7 and year 8 next year around a cultural trip to Rome. Classics, Art, History of Art, Latin, Italian, History, Architecture, Cookery, Music and gladiatorial combat (!) will make the curriculum inspirational (with flex for creativity) rich, cultural and wonderful for the whole term. The ability to link is one of the signs of academia and high quality teaching on this scale encourages synapses in the brain to link and connections to be made. Children need ‘hooks’ for knowledge to fix onto and it is linking up which helps the process of learning to happen.

We have seen the first of some wonderful photographs taken by Emma Solley for the new Website and Prospectus.  A snippet here and more to come.  She is visiting the school over the next few terms to make sure we have some super photos showing the range of what we do here.

St. Peter's Prep, Lympstone