Olympic Gold

Yes really.

Tonight was our KS4 Achievements evening where our former Year 11's return to receive their GCSE Certificates, and our Current Year 11 get their achievement certificates for the previous year in school.

It is an annual event, and each year we have had more and more to celebrate. This year it was the best ever set of GCSE results, getting through OFSTED without being hung out to dry and being given a clear vote of confidence from all manner of people about what we are doing and why we are doing it. At the end of the day, the kids sit the exams and perform on the day, but it takes a team to get them there, and thats us guys and their parents and everyone else who chips in along the way.

Tonight we had the privilege of having Dr Matt Parker (left) and Ed Clancyas our Honoured Guests.

Matt Parker is the British Cyclying Team Endurance Coach and Matt (left) and Ed. Ed Clancy is a Team GB Track Pursuit Gold Medallist.

Matt gave an excellent speech to the audience about achieving goals, not focussing on the end performance but on the process of getting there, and making sure that you have a good team around you to support you. And we got to see the Track Pursuit replayed on video with a live commentary from Matt about what was happening - which was awesome to watch. Ed brought his Gold Medal with him - I was able to pinch it off him briefly to take some photos - its impressively heavy and much bigger than you might think it to be - only just sat in the palm of my hand (this is the reverse side of the medal).

The kids, bless them, were quite unable to make eye contact with Ed as he was giving out the certificates, although some of the boys clearly had a couple of moments of private jokes with Ed to the amusement of our Headteacherand the other members of the platform party. We even managed to sneak in a 'gangsta rap' style handshake.

As the evening drew to a close, our Head Boy and Girl presented our Olympians with a gift to say thank you for coming. What do you give highly trained athletes as a gift? Yeah ....wine!!!

The end of the evening was the best bit for me, because my kids from last year came to say hello. Its amazing how much they grow up in the 4 months since they left - but you know, when they come back at tell you that they miss you and would do anything to come back to school, and bear hug you, and tell you they love you, then you know that the job that you are doing is the most worthwhile thing in the world.

So today, I truly love my job - and to my cherubs, past and probably present, you give as much to me as I do to you!