Wednesday afternoon, first day back and I am in a Year 11 English lesson checking in on students.  As I hover over a student, looking at the work he is doing in his exercise book, he stops writing, looks up at me and asks, “Is it really cool to be the Headteacher, Sir?” 

Slightly taken aback, I reply, “Well, I get the opportunity to visit loads of lessons, see lots of students and teachers and learn about all types of subjects, including MacBeth,” referencing the book they would be studying this term. 

“I get that, Sir.  But like is it really cool?” 

“Well what do you mean?” I asked. 

“Well, could you shut down the school if you wanted to?  Or sack Miss,” he said, nodding towards his teacher. 

“No, I couldn’t, and I absolutely wouldn’t want to,” I replied.  “But it is still really cool in lots of other ways.” 

Over the years, I have been asked some fantastic questions by students at Hessle, and younger pupils at Penshurst. 

The ones at Penshurst usually start with a fascination with my eye.  I lost the sight in my left eye when I was 11 years old after a cricket accident detached the retina.  The cornea has clouded over and so I have odd coloured eyes (in case you hadn’t noticed).  Younger pupils are fascinated by it and will believe any explanation I give them.  I stopped telling them, years ago, that it was a false eye and that I could take it out and bounce it.  Especially after the fainting incident (not really). 

As the children get older they become more interested in the amount of decision-making responsibility that my job entails.  Sometimes they ask about curriculum and spending on resources etc, but more often it goes along these lines: 

“Sir, can’t we have a Subway counter in the school?  Could you get us one?” 

“It’s too hot, Sir, can’t you close the school?” 

“It’s too cold, Sir, can’t you close the school?” 

“Sir, do you actually own Hessle High School?  Why don’t you sell it and retire?” 

And then, eventually, as they consider the types of jobs that adults do, they ask me how it feels to be the Head.  I love answering them and always tell them it is a privilege and a job that I love. 

The first week of a new school year is one of my favourites.  I spend the final days of the summer term in a restless mood, unable to relax fully and keen to put plans into action.  I would, if I had some of the decision-making power that the students seem to think I have, reduce the summer holiday and extend some of the half terms.  But the first few days are a real energy boost, seeing the staff again, welcoming new colleagues and then welcoming back the students. 

This week has been precisely like that with very few, if any, hiccups.  The students have returned positively, well-dressed and equipped and attendance is already a notch or two higher than at the same time last year.  I thank you for your support with all of that. 

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Next Thursday is our Ks4 and Ks5 Awards evening, an event which has been brought forward in the calendar for this academic year.  This is our opportunity to congratulate our highest achieving students for their performance in external exams before they go off and start their next studies.  If you have received an invitation to this event as a parent/carer, please respond swiftly so that we can ensure we can properly cater for everyone and we look forward to seeing you there. 

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Also on the horizon is our Year 11 Information Evening on Tuesday 17 September.  This event will enable all parents/carers to be fully onboarded with our support package for Year 11.  I spoke to the Year 11 students on Wednesday and informed them that there are just 145 school days before their first exam.  There are now 142 and, by the time of the information evening, there will 135.  Every day counts and we will speak to you, and the students, on how we can all maximise the time we have to ensure all students achieve their potential. 

In the meantime, thanks again for all of your support. 

Those of you that are new to this blog will not know that I occasionally end it by sharing some of my own plans for the weekend and the family activities that take place in the Groak household. 

Well, this is a relatively quiet weekend after a frantic summer and so we will be enjoying some time together, catching up on missed episodes of Race Across The World and Freddy Flintoff’s Field of Dreams, both of which we love.   

Both of our children are active.  Our daughter loves drama and dancing, whilst our son is sports-obsessed.  Our daughter, who drives us mad with her unwillingness to try new foods, has promised to experiment more ‘now that she is in Year 6!’.  Last week, she tried some steak for the first time, loved it and said, “how have you never given me this before?’  So I think we are barbecuing on Saturday so she can have it again.  This year, our son (14) has started playing senior cricket for Kirkella CC and on Sunday we will probably go and watch him play, along with my parents.   

Whatever you are doing, enjoy some hopefully warm weather and thanks again for you support. 

Mr Groak

Headteacher