Sep30th
The highlights of the Sawtry visit for me were the Citizenship session where we saw the best examples of students being given their own voice, and the day nursery where again pupils were expressing themselves, albeit in a more messy way! I have to admit to being slightly alarmed by the pursuit of ICT qualifications which seem heavily biased towards functional software usage. Will this just be an assumed skill of young people in the future? I believe that other skills such as appropriate ways to write and promote via the web, gleaned through practical use across the curriculum, are likely to be more relevant. This isn’t to trivialise the work the -pupils are doing I just wonder if their skills and energy couldn’t be channelled more broadly. Peter Sadler
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Sep30th
I am very impressed with the way Sawtry college has involved the wider community with huge benefits for all. I was particularly inspired by the active citizenship project in year 10. I will be encouraging my colleagues to get in touch with Emma!
Thank you Sawtry for all your hospitality; the tour guides were excellent !
Ewa Kolczynska
Deputy Head
Gumley House Convent School
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Sep30th
Sawtry seems a forward looking and happy place. A good start.
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Sep30th
I write from the back seat on the way to the third award winner. Yesterday on the future visions bus tour was a truly inspiring day full of examples of exciting and tireless work building the outward facing school, making the difference to the community and changing children’s lives. And Jorden, who was a delight to meet. Thanks you for the tour Jorden, I really enjoyed meeting your brother and sister. And thank you to all the other wonderful young people who made it such a special day.
Caroline
Posted in Sawtry Community College, Southern Tour, The Canterbury Campus No Comments »
Sep30th
A TERRIFIC START TO THE TOUR
The sawtry team allowed us a real insight into the workings of the school, taking questions both from the group and one to one. Of the many highlights were student presentations, and an outstanding review of a first class citizenship programme. Thank you Sawtry Community College.
William Akerman.
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Sep30th
Hi
just managed to get on line and emailing some thoughts from this morning!
Sawtry college
I thought it would take a minor miracle to keep me awake after a 4.00 am start on this tour - but the Sawtry atmosphere acted as a tonic. It wasn’t just the prepared displays, interesting and informative as they were, but the underlying air of common, or should that be community, purpose that came across. It’s easy to ‘put on a show’, but the little things will give you away - the smell of new paint and artfully placed posters, duty staff appearing - to looks of surprise from the students or a tour route which never takes you near the back of a building! I’m sure that there had been a tidy up - who doesn’t tidy the house when visitors are coming? - but the feel was of a well organised schedule put together with the confidence that everyone would want to do their part to show off their school.
My highlights?
The contrasting generations - the local historian scanning his photos with pride, and the very serious 3 year old lad following us from place to place in the nursery, seemingly listening with absorbed and even critical interest to the presentation
The clear pride of the member of staff introducing a shy year 11 girl presenting her own enterprise work. Then the potentially damaging panic on the girl’s face when she forgot her words - rescued within seconds by the intuitive intervention of her teacher. A single moment of confidence building which demonstrated in microcosm a whole ethos of respect and care for learning.
Great start!
Chris Stanway
Akamas
And Canterbury?
A very different experience - where curriculum innovation had been led by visionary leadership. Unlike Sawtry the local community was disinterested - so force in some cutting edge buildings and status. Use the Specialist Trust to its best advantage - give teaching staff some real incentive to improve and continue to back that up by valuing all staff. Keep adding in more specialisms and academies until children want to join in. Keep your standard number at 180 so there is scarcity value in a place at the school - and then sell improvement and keep telling the children they are great and they will achieve. Put in some innovative version of setting which recognises and even celebrates difference - and then keep on doing it again and again because you believe in the value of education.
The guides were great ambassadors for an exciting school.
Cheers
Chris
PS the dinner wasn’t bad either!
#
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Sep29th
What a fascinating evening! Entertained by the students,
Waited on by students, and some intriguing insights from the head. Not to mention some good food. Certainly a well-deserved award!
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Sep29th
Parkside Federation students are making the video of the tour. Here they film the award at Sawtry.
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Sep29th
The power of community partnerships exemplified in the nettle-infested corner of the grounds transformed into an outdoor nursery space.
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Sep29th
The aroma of homebaked biccies provided a most excellent and welcome start to ths southern FV tour.
2 v good yr 9 and 10 students guided us around excellent presentations - community library and IT were particulzarly informative .
WELL DONE Sawtry a very well deserved award .
Sir James Hill
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