“And what is good, Phaedrus,
And
what is not good _____
Need
we ask anyone to tell us these things”.
Robert M Pirsig, “Zen and the Art of
Motorcycle Maintenance”.
Yesterday at around 4.00 p.m. (Monday), I found out that I
had lost a very close friend of mine after a short but serious illness. I felt very upset and numbed by the
experience and I could not help reflecting on our friendship as I cycled
home. To compound my reflective state, I
had a puncture (another) outside the same farm as the previous week. I thought about our conversation, 10 days
ago, when I visited him at his home in Stafford. As he sat in a wheelchair, he quizzed me
about our results, enrolment and successes in his beautiful Irish accent. The two of us have worked together for almost
15 years and he has certainly been a source of inspiration to hundreds of
students and myself. I told him about
our outstanding results at A2, AS and on our BTEC courses, the high increase in
the number of top grades at A* and the success of our Oxbridge and medics. As I informed him about the growth of our
College, the new building that is being constructed and some of the superb
staff that we have appointed, he smiled in that knowing way, which was his
style. It is interesting that our
fortunes are followed in different parts of Yorkshire, the rest of the country
and even in Europe and the States.
John
Maynard Keynes once said,
"When I see objective data I change my
views. What do you do?"
This is poignant because one of our "partner
organisations" in Hull has been advertising in the local press and claims
to be the best sixth form college in Hull.
Apart from the fact that it is not even a proper sixth form college but
an 11-18 school, the data would not support the fact that it is anywhere near
the best. That combined with offering
mini iPads to entice students in the sixth form would appear to be a little
desperate. But enough about that, what
about us and what can we offer?
Just plain
"outstanding teaching".
Brilliant
student outcomes:
Excellent
results at A2 (99.6%); AS (94%); A* - B
grades at 49%+;
Superb
support;
An
abundance of trips and visits;
Exceptional
facilities.
Questions about the outcomes of students are always poignant
and worth seeking answers to through the plethora of (sometimes deceptive)
marketing and publicity material. So
many new students - it is wonderful to see you all coming in in the morning,
getting used to greeting me with a wonderful smile on your faces. I have been particularly impressed by your willingness
to come up with solutions at lunch and break times, finding nooks and crannies for
shelter and comfort. The new building
will be ready later this term and should provide more space and additional
facilities. My advice is to be patient
because the new provision will certainly be worth waiting for.
On Monday lunchtime, I went out to see the large number of
students and staff participating in team trials: 60-70 boys and 50 girls
playing football; 40+ girls playing netball; 40 boys playing rugby and over 30
students practising basketball. What an
amazing turnout – no wonder that PE is so successful at our College. It got even better; as I went searching for
one of our music staff, I found myself in the Theatre where nearly 30 students
were rehearsing a song in preparation for their auditions for Little Shop of Horrors.
This is only the first full week and I know that other
enrichment sessions: choir; jazz band; debating; Law Society; medical careers;
the Maths Olympiad, will begin later in the week. I cannot help feeling that this reinforces
our message about our College,
"The more you put in the more that you will
get out".
I can only reinforce this message and urge all of you to get
involved in things, be enthusiastic, do not be worried about "standing
out" and continue to smile.
Seeing all of you and witnessing the efforts of our
magnificent staff certainly makes me so happy and able to escape from the
sadness of losing my wonderful friend. I
know that he would have been so proud of you.
This blog is dedicated to Sean Hayes - Rest in Peace dear friend.
"It's
not time to make a change….
Just
relax, take it easy.
You're
still young (but)
I
know (you) have to go away".
Cat
Stevens, "Father and Son".
