It’s a real privilege to be in charge of young minds. It’s special when you see those eyes light up when they understand something and when you can see them really learning and enjoying achieving, having fun.
A child came to me the other day and said: ‘I have a birthday and it’s the same day I was born on’. Moments like that make you laugh and realise that young children see the world so differently from us.
Over my long career, I’ve taught in every type of school and I think there are still traditional, you may say old-fashioned, values which apply today, such as good manners, knowing the times tables and the ability to quietly enjoy a book. Junior education is like building a house – you have to get the foundations right at the beginning.
In a good junior school, there should be a lot of laughter and smiling. Excellence isn’t about stiff formality, it can’t be when you’re dealing with young children, because every child is different. At Clock House, I want our children to go home each day having enjoyed something, whether it’s learning in a lesson, finding out something amazing, or thought about something that’s inspired them to think or to act in a positive way.
One of the things I like about the junior age group is that they still have wonder and endless enthusiasm and imagination. They see the world from four feet off the ground! They don’t yet know enough about the world to become cynical. They can accept things or ask the most demanding of questions and love random facts – they can give you the names of three dinosaurs with six syllables each and ask how rainbows are made. Sometimes it can be quite hard to answer a child’s question!
I loved my childhood where I could escape into my imagination and it’s easy to see today how seemingly relentless technology could impinge on that freedom until it is lost to children. That’s part of our job. School should be a place where magic can still happen. I don’t have a magic wand … but I can create an atmosphere in school where the staff think about the little things which spark imaginations or passion in our children. If our children can enjoy school at this age, they’ll enjoy education for life. I certainly come to school and enjoy myself, and I hope they do too.
“A child came to me the other day and said: ‘I have a birthday and it’s the same day I was born on’. Moments like that make you laugh and realise that young children see the world so differently from us.
Junior education is like building a house – you have to get the foundations right at the beginning.”
Be Social!