Futures Vision Bus Tours 2008

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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