As Headteacher I spend a lot of time walking around the school with a purpose – off to a meeting or a lesson observation or an assembly or to talk with a member of staff or a student – and sometimes it is nice to take half an hour to wander around the school without an obvious mission and to see what I find. The last lesson on Tuesday afternoon was such a moment and it is a pleasure to reflect upon what was going on.
Firstly, behaviour and conduct were exemplary. In every lesson students were focused, attentive and working hard. They were experiencing a wonderful range of activities: from Year 7 in the clay room making pottery owls and Year 10 in PE filming sporting performance on iPads, to experiments in every Science room in the new block with Bunsen burners aflame and microscopes on every desk and engrossing participation in activities in the Drama Studio. It was a busy school with active learning, high levels of engagement and great teaching and learning – everything we know about Wallingford School in action.
Equally, at lunchtimes this week I have enjoyed Year 7 Film Club, Chess Club and the progress with The Courtyard Garden which has been made just outside my office window. Meanwhile, the seemingly neverending (and quite excellent) House tutor group football competition rolls on each lunchtime on the astroturf and last Friday’s House Pancake Race was quite something to behold. Fixtures in football and netball abound each day afterschool with wins, draws and the odd loss as it should be.
Expressive arts lie at the heart of our school and it was a delight for the cast of our production of the Wizard of Oz to mark World Book Day on Thursday by visiting Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Primary School in costume – they made quite an impression. Finally, we have our Spring Concert next week on Thursday 9th March. As ever, it should be a great evening and I would encourage you to attend if you are able to.