Alumni and the cross-keys

I am delighted to announce that Mrs Kate Lord  has accepted the position of Boarding Houseparent and teacher for the year starting in September.  Many of you will remember Kate who worked with Mr and Mrs Newman in the boarding house last year.  She has a background in the army and has recently completed her PGCE.  The staff and pupils are thrilled with the appointment and I am sure you will join me in making her welcome.  Recruitment for a permanent houseparent will then take place over the Michaelmas term ready for September 2018.  I can also let you know that Miss Shannon Baker has accepted a position as a trainee accountant from May half term and we wish her well with her new career.  She has been a bedrock of support and fun in the boarding house, at school and on the games field.  Shannon will be replaced by Jodie Atkins for the rest of the term.  Jodie previously worked as the Boarding Gap here at St. Peter’s so is very familiar with the ropes!

Spending time with the children is absolutely the best part about being a Head and I joined Nursery for their ‘Hello song and dance’ on Monday morning.  I’ve welcomed children in my office explaining their work which has made it into the ‘Academic Book of Excellence’ (this week a three page French essay by Abbie in year 8).  I had lunch with some Year 6 in my study this week and they enjoyed telling me how impressed they are with the new food changes and we had a great discussion about their Science experiments that they are working on to present in the Science Fair in a couple of weeks.  Experiments are all designed by the children from testing the success of various mechanical hand, the porous quality of egg shells to the best chocolate brownie recipe.  (This last one is particularly fun!).  I’m looking forward to the presentations later in the term.  

This week I received a letter from a Year 6 pupil.  It was eloquently written, well argued and rather impressive.  I replied to the letter asking said child to meet me (with a friend) in my office at break time.  They remembered, ( on time ) and we had a super discussion all about my vision for the school and how important I felt the History of the school was.  The boys felt reassured that I would be rehanging the previous Headmasters’ portraits in the new library and that I would also be doing an alumni display.  The school has a fascinating history and I welcomed Mr Charles Abram for coffee last week, a previous head.  He shared with me a detailed history of school done under his watch by a previous master.  I particularly enjoyed reading that the school was founded in 1882, as a ‘High Class’ School at Exmouth for the ‘sons of Gentlemen’ .  The school was moved from Exmouth to the current site at Harefield in 1949.  It is often that I show round families with parents who had attended the school as children and are now looking for their own children.  If anyone has any photos or information for our History of St. Peter’s display in the new library, please do let me know.  Often they say that they remember St. Peter’s with such fondness as a wonderful place to grow up.  A traditional prep school with a real family feel to it which instills good values and nurtures children in an environment full of opportunities.  They feel that they benefitted and want the same for their children.  Here is a picture of one of the old school blazers and cap. Its really interesting to note the old shape of the shield.  In those days they had ‘pips’ for House points which were pinned onto the blazer.  This picture of the one above the office shows the original shield shape in more detail and it was we have echoed in our new branding as shown here on one of the new House T-Shirts.  .

Have a wonderful bank holiday weekend with the family.

The St Peter’s Learning and Research Hub - much more than a library

The St Peter’s Learning and Research Hub - much more than a library

Quiet spaces in schools are hard to come by, but they are essential.  The parent, staff and pupil survey in January highlighted very strongly that the community felt that such a space is needed at St Peter’s.  Children wished for a space where they could spend time colouring or building lego at break and lunch times, where they could chat and have some space and peace in the middle of a busy day and of course a space to read.  This place of quiet is only one of the benefits that our new Learning Space will create.  

The current office, a room at the centre of Harefield House, with two French windows overlooking the Estuary is the central space in the school.  By redesigning this as a Learning and Research Hub, the room will put the children and learning right at the heart of St Peter’s.  Bookshelves will line the walls and will be organised by genre.  Zones will be created for ‘mystery’, ‘adventure’, ‘animal stories’ etc.  There will be a Research zone with information texts alongside banks of laptops to enable the children to use a balance of technology as well as quality books for independent learning and group work.  Every child will have a lesson taught in this forward thinking learning space each week. They will be a taught how to use different sources for independent research and we have employed a dedicated librarian to work with the children to advise and guide.  

Opportunities for leadership will be available for older children to encourage and listen to other children read and to use the space for independent research, or for getting their prep done.  

Children will have space for creative and collaborative technology and the room will provide opportunities for quality presentations by both pupils and adults and for both pupils and adults, with a large moveable screen and projector.  A central table will provide opportunities for children to work together in large groups with their teachers taking in turns to lead the learning as in a ‘Harkness’ model of teaching (more next week).   Communication is one of the key skills of the Baccalaureate and the Learning Hub will provide a sophisticated space to enable quality presentations to take place.

A further benefit will be that the room will be a multi-functional space available for Parent workshops  (a programme of which is being developed for next year - on, for example Managing a Digital native at home, Maths workshops, Future schools’ advice), small concerts or poetry performances, drinks receptions for parents and match teas.  

I am delighted that the School and Friends of St Peter’s are working together to build and provide this Research and Learning Hub, a forward thinking space for the children but also for the community.  It is wonderful to have something of significance on which to spend funds that will make a huge, positive leap forward to the life of the school.  Without the support of the Friends it would not be possible to build such a space and this project is a real testament to how far we have come together over this year at St Peter’s.  I am sure you will join me in thanking all of those involved and I look forward to welcoming you to the new Learning and Research Hub next term.

Broadening Horizons - Future School options

Broadening horizons was the theme for St. Peter's parents at the next steps schools fair last night. There are many wonderful schools in the South West and it was tremendous to see them in

one place. Parents appreciated being able to chat to Heads and Registrars from the schools and get a real feel for what they could offer their child. It is that personal relationship which is key to build with schools to ensure the Best possible outcomes for the child and it is that which parents will buy into.

Welcoming schools from further afield such as Byranston, Clifton College, Cheltenham, Sherborne, King’s Bruton, showed some other options that may not have previously been considered. My great thanks to Rachel Elliott, Kaye Hurley  and Simon Brett for organising The senior schools certainly enjoyed their cream tea !

This week it has been a joy to spend time in classrooms and seeing the push on child directed learning having a direct effect.  Wonder walls are up in classrooms with children starting each topic with asking a range of questions on what they would like to know and then ‘discovering’ and ‘investigating’ themselves.  This is the reverse of seeing the children as empty vessels to be filled with knowledge and means that children become engaged and actively involved.  It is also lovely to see the learning lines displayed where children show where they are in the process of learning.  It is fantastic to work with such a committed staff who embrace new new initiatives in teaching and learning.

I’ve enjoyed seeing parents at the first Rounders and Cricket matches this week.  I have also very much enjoyed the match teas.  Next week I am  holding a Tea on the Lawn with parents on Tuesday 9th May and look forward to seeing many of you there.

The Summer Ball tickets are selling like hot cakes and we now have only eight tables left.  It is going to be wonderful evening, please do book via the website to guarantee your table.  

Have a super weekend with your families.