The second week of the new school year is when we see students getting into their routines.  There are fewer Year 7 students looking lost on the corridors, the canteen queues have settled down and there is a renewed pace and purpose to learning in the classroom.   

We have been delighted with the attitude of all students this year.  Overwhelmingly, they have stepped up to meet our exacting standards of uniform and general presentation.  Furthermore, their conduct around the school has been impeccable.  This week we have welcomed a number of trainee teachers to our school who have begun their teaching practice with us.  After a few hours in the school, they were keen to let us know how calm they had found the school and how welcoming and polite the students had been towards them.   

I will always remember giving an experienced Headteacher a tour of our school a few years ago.  He was then the CEO of another Trust and also an ex-Ofsted inspector.  He was significantly more experienced than me at the time and so I was slightly nervous as I began my tour with him.  We stopped several times on the corridor and watched students moving around, we dropped into a couple of classrooms and came back to my office.   

“You’ve got a good school here, Vince”, he said.   

“How could you possibly know that?” I asked, “you’ve only been here ten minutes.” 

“I could tell as soon as we saw the kids walking to their lessons,” he told me.  “There’s no pushing and shoving, they’re going the right way, they’re well dressed.  They know why they’re here and they’re proud to be here.  It stands out a mile.” 

I was pleased as punch, as you can imagine and I have always used that same method to test the culture of our school.  I’ll stand on the corridor and watch the movement, of students and staff.  I have to say, having done this several times this week, that the behaviour culture at Hessle is even stronger than it was back then.  We’ve worked hard to achieve that and are now fully focused on ensuring that this is converted into ever-improving outcomes and experiences for all our students. 

Your support is invaluable in this journey, however, and I thank you for it. 

On Thursday this week, we welcomed over 200 families to our Year 11 Launch event.  This was an opportunity for us to share with parents and carers, our plans for how we intend to support our Year 11s this year.  I firmly believe that the students get a fantastic deal from our staff who go above and beyond to ensure that they succeed.  All that we ask of them is that they attend school, work hard and take the advice and guidance that is given to them freely.  On the evidence of Thursday, it appears that they have every intention of doing so.   

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Finally, a word for our Year 7 students who continue to impress.  Attendance and behaviour is exemplary and they are now starting to really get into the rhythm of the school year, having met most of their teachers by now.  I hope that all our Year 7 parents and carers are equally at ease with the start of term.  I know, from experience with my own children, that the transition to secondary school can cause some anxiety amongst even the most phlegmatic of children and this can worry some parents.  If you have any concerns or worries about your child’s first few weeks in school, please get in touch and let us work through them together.  In the meantime, thank you all for your support in making this crucial transition so successful for all concerned. 

The first half term is always very busy with events and so I urge you to keep checking your email and speaking to your child about what is going on in school.  If you have friends or family members who may be interested, our Open Evening is coming up on September 25^th and our Sixth Form Open Evening is on October 14^th.  Please check social media or our website for more information about either of these events and we hope to see plenty of people there. 

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I was proud last week to complete my first ever Half Marathon when I managed to finish the Great North Run.  My goal was to finish without stopping or walking which I did.  I wasn’t bothered how long it took me but am still amazed that I ran non-stop for 2 hours and 34 minutes.  My goodness, it hurt though!  Well done to anyone who has undertaken something like this.  I have even more respect and admiration for those that regularly run these kind of events, especially for Charity and the benefit of others.  It was a terrific and humbling experience. 

Thankfully, it is a slightly quieter weekend this time around with most of my time taken ferrying my son to football and cricket fixtures and going to the MKM Stadium on Saturday to watch Hull FC.  Aside from that, there will be some relaxing time, and I have a fence gate that also needs painting!   

I hope you enjoy your weekend and thank you as always for your support.