Educating Essex EXCLUSIVE - The Headteacher's Blog Week 7
PASSMORES headteacher Vic Goddard writes exclusively for the Harlow Star about the TV series Educating Essex, which was filmed at his school.
A FINAL blog – what a crazy few weeks this has been! The episode last week has produced so many responses about how obviously bright ‘our’ Mollie is and wishing her well and even offering work experience! It was such an interesting watch to see how the working relationship between Mr Drew and Mollie changed and grew. I am delighted to say that Mollie is still with us and will leave with many choices for the future.
The final episode concludes the ‘Vinni’ story and you get to meet Ryan. Ryan is one of my heroes and one of the most wonderful, inspiring and energy giving individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I have seen the episode on a few occasions and (this will come as no surprise to those that know me) and I still get very affected by it. You get to see our lovely new building and the young people getting their results. I really hope that you like it even though there isn’t as much Mr Drew as in other episodes!
If you would have said to me only six weeks ago that by the last episode I would have sat on the sofa with Christine Bleakley, Adrian Chiles, Sian Williams and Bill Turnbull I would have laughed; if you had said that a picture of myself and Mr Drew would appear in national papers I would have called you ridiculous. Who could have guessed that a programme about our school and what we do, and see as normal, would be watched by 2.5 million people? Passmores strives to do what every school in the country tries to do every day and that is to provide the best possible future for the young people we serve. I don’t feel that we do anything extraordinary (‘not in a super hero way’ – you will have to watch episode seven to understand why this is relevant); I do not feel that we are doing anything different to what was done for me, by my teachers, a very long time ago! To receive messages saying that people have found what we do to be inspirational and that we have encouraged others to teach has made the more difficult comments worthwhile.
I feel it would be wrong of me to not mention some of the comments made in certain newspapers and social media sites as I look back over the series. The programme was never meant to be a ‘how to’ guide and on some occasions I have looked at it and thought it is more a ‘how not to’ guide but that is okay because we are human beings striving to be the best we can and to help our community to grow and thrive but sometimes we fall short – never for lack of effort however.
I know that some people have criticised the lack of classroom teaching on display in the series but that is not what the programme is about; people are not surprised when Top Gear isn’t about gardening because it isn’t about that! The show set out to show the pastoral care that is in place for the young people of our school; to highlight the challenges we as adults have made for our children and the ones they make for themselves. I believe passionately in the young people I serve and I use that word deliberately because that is what I do. We try to deliver them an environment that is safe and happy. When I applied to become the headteacher of Passmores I wrote a vision in my letter of application (that I based on one I had seen at another school). I still try to deliver it every day -
"Imagine a fun fair for the mind that is continuously invented and reinvented by a community of people who are energetic, playful, responsible, caring, and committed to learning. See the high level of academic achievement in exhibitions, projects, awards, and special events that are a way of life. Notice the presence of all age groups making connections with one another through the work they do, the problems they solve, and the experience, strength, and hope they share. See the use of technologies everywhere to invent the future, examine the past, and make sense out of today.
"Appreciate the music, art, drama, and physical movement present everywhere and used by all as a way to learn language, history, geography, science and maths, and as a way to nurture body, mind, and spirit. Sense the presence of professionals committed to achieving extraordinary results in each moment of every ordinary day; children of all ages discovering the champion within."
I hope that the parents/carers in our community still trust us to do the best for every young person. Remembering that while Mr Drew is dealing with a difficult situation a classroom teacher is being allowed to teach those that are ready to learn to become champions of commerce, political leaders, scientists, artists, dancers and anything else that they set their heart on. Remember that while I am talking to Vinni and his social worker the rest of the school is continuing to receive an education that has enabled Passmores to hit our targets year after year.
Thank you for your kindness and support, this has helped over the last few weeks, but also thank you for your criticisms because this makes us reflect on what we are doing and to try and make us ‘improve upon our best’. I really hope that you enjoy episode seven.
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