Good day

First open evening at school. Staff and kids were fantastic - every teacher, including all the part-timers, set up a little something - and about half the student body volunteered to stay and support. Of course the "kids" are our greatest marketing asset - friendly, enthusiastic about school, polite yet down-to-earth 'normal' kids. And a real mix socially, ethnically, academically. The impromptu, AUTHENTIC speeches some of them gave about what St James' means to them were apparently very stirring - but for me the really touching thing was what was going on when the parents weren't in the room - natural chit-chat, playing table football, just 'hanging out' - nothing amazing, but bet that's rare in other schools when we're talking about people aged 11 to 19, from different year groups, boys and girls, from different countries etc. Just like a family really, a cliche which comes close to being a genuine truth in my school. Blip taken on way back to my room after post-open evening pub chill out with the Houseparents and Head of Computing, which was great.