It is now nearly twelve months since I took up the position of Head of Priesthorpe School. It is very tempting to look back over that time to see how the school is progressing.

I can look at Ofsted inspections, specialist re-designation, BSF plans etc., with great satisfaction, but is this what a school is all about?

From a parent’s viewpoint, you tend to judge a school from how your son / daughter is doing as an individual. I know, from the feedback we get on Parents’ Days, most of you feel your child is making good progress and likes school and you regard the teaching at Priesthorpe as good. However, I also know about what concerns parents and pupils.

The sorts of issues that often arise are to do with pupil behaviour, bullying and homework. In my experience these are issues common to all schools. However, this does not mean that we should be complacent. Priesthorpe has historically had a strong pastoral system, which sets tackling issues, such as these, at the heart of its work. As the school moves forward in other directions, we must not lose this emphasis. Parents and carers have a real role to play here, in understanding relationships between young people, supporting their children and also in reminding them of their responsibilities. For details of the Parental Questionnaires, click here.

Despite all the anxieties we face, there is so much to celebrate, both locally and in broader communities. I hope you all feel this too and, with this in mind, I would like to wish all our pupils, parents, carers and staff a Merry Christmas and a prosperous and, above all, peaceful New Year.