Pleasant Surprises

Seeing the plethora of adverts all over the shops and Internet urging people to buy socks, DVDs, lager and t shirts with Homer Simpson on them for Father's day has made me a little bit depressed. It sounds incredibly trite but losing your parents is one of those injuries to the psyche that never really heals. You get distracted from it for a while and then when you least expect it, you catch something that triggers memories and before you know it you're spiralling into abject depression.

BUT....

In an effort to stem the tide of self pity I've decided to look on the bright side of things. Take work, for example.

One thing I will say for HHS is we certainly don't sit on our laurels. While every other school in the country is winding down, we're winding up. See at Haslingden High we start the academic year a half term early and while for many reasons it's a double edged sword there does seem to be a scent of positivity and eagerness in the air (along with the combined funk of Lynx chocolate and sweaty adolescents).

Furthermore this year our students are starting their GCSEs in Year 9.

Let me just repeat that. These 13 year olds who in any other school would be in Year 8 are now starting their GCSEs.

If you'd proposed this to me at the start of my career I would have snorted cynically and thrown the remains of my shepherd's pie at you but it would seem my cynicism was ill founded.

The Year 9 kids (though I suspect slightly terrified) are taking to the rigours of upper school study with aplomb, throwing themselves unreservedly into their work with a positivity that really, really impressed me.

Will they cope with study designed for children with a year of extra education and experience than them? Yes, I believe they will. Will it be easy? No, I suspect not!

Given the fact that I'm teaching to a brand new exam spec this year there's a lot to be apprehensive about but by and large I have a really good feeling about my next batch of drama acolytes!

Oh and speaking of loyal disciples, I got a visit from some former Year 11s today on their way from or to a revision session which was great. I must admit I do swell with pride when I see them in their normal clothes looking all grown up and just like real people.

Bless!