What a difference a day makes!
This week amidst the busyness of normal school life, some children have been triumphant in the success they have achieved in 11+ and others have felt disappointed. Yesterday of course, in the ignorance of this label, they were able to relax and enjoy each other’s company but today some of the children are struggling.
As adults it is our responsibility to affirm and support children and manage their reactions to be considerate, if jubilant. This exam on which so much is predicated is literally just one day.
As an inclusive school, we affirm and support children in each of the steps they take. Some children sense a great burden for their parents if they have not met their expectations and it is really important that we show love and care and faith in and the value of each child in our school and that this is mirrored at home.
If you are a family for whom this is relevant, please consider how best you can support your child, whatever they have achieved.
I have been made aware, through a few meetings held with parents, of a new phenomenon in the parenting world that is having an impact on the well-being of staff at school and this is the increasing reliance on WhatsApp as a form of communication.
Whilst I understand and applaud the opportunities for group chat that this excellent app permits, I would urge parents to be cautious about using it to discuss and criticise staff.
If there has been an issue which you feel requires attention, the only way for appropriate attention to be received is for the person who feels this to discuss it with the member of staff. If this does not bear fruit then a conversation should be had with that person’s line manager.
Of course a parent can feel foolish when they raise an issue they have only read about if challenged to explain how they know and I do not wish to put anyone off raising issues if they have them with the school, but I would ask that you consider the impact of group chat on the self-esteem and lives of the people who teach your children.
As a business model there is clearly a flaw in having a debate about the way forward between lots of people in an open and permanent manner without involving anybody who’s actually going to take the thing forward . Please think about how you will influence the change to happen, if the change is needed and do not assume that if you have read something in WhatsApp it must be true.
Jill Aisher