'Forget what hurt you but never forget what it taught you'

The negative side of social media played a major role in why I left my post as head teacher in 2015.  It is ironic that this blog has enabled me to communicate part of my story in so far as I am able.

As a teacher I believe we are continuously learning.  What have I learned from all of this?  I have reflected, sometimes daily.  What would I do differently?

Interviews are hard, not just for those being interviewed but also for those interviewing! 

I wanted and will always look for the very best staff, with potential to improve and those willing to go the extra mile for the children.  In future, my interview panels will be multidisciplinary, consisting of people of the highest integrity and with different specialisms.   I will look for people who are able to speak out against injustice.  Genuine people who are not afraid to challenge and speak the truth.  I have learnt that giving chances to some people, time and time again, is not always best.  This has been a steep learning curve and a difficult one when you only want to see the best in people. 

 I was once told by a well respected member of the community ‘Mrs Hart, one day you will take off those rose tinted spectacles of yours and see people for who they are’.  The words still haunt me today. 

Will I trust again?  Yes.

Will I be generous in spirit again?  Yes.

Will I continue to be me again?  Yes.

‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal.  It is the courage to continue that counts’.  Sir Winston Churchill.

I am aware that there are many reading this blog and some are now prepared to speak, despite being told to do otherwise at the time of my resignation and afterwards. 

In June 2016 I was contacted by one of my peers offering an apology  "I guess you will have seen the reports….despite my efforts and those of others, the good work done at Trinity over many years was dismissed.  I am sorry that your work and that of others has been portrayed as being so bad."

The track record of the school spoke volumes.  It deeply saddens and bewilders me that the ‘good work over many years’ was so easily ‘dismissed’.  This 'good work' would include another outstanding OFSTED in June 2013 and DfE approval for Trinity to open a new nursery in the same year.  In 2014 a highly positive visit from the then Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC), now the National Schools Commissioner (NSC) took place.  The Church Inspection (SIAMS) in November 2014 rated the school outstanding (again).  This resulted in both Bath and Wells Diocese and the DfE formally approving the setting up of a Multi-Academy Trust, taking Dundry Primary under my leadership.  At the same time, Trinty became a teaching school as part of a neighbouring Academy Trust.  This was in September 2015. 

You cannot wipe out history or erase the facts, no matter how hard you try.

More importantly, why would anyone want to? 

 I will never be afraid to speak out.  Lessons can be learnt not just by me but by all involved.

The success that we achieved at Trinity for the children was partly down to creating and maintaining a strong team work ethic.   This was built around trust, loyalty and dedication. This meant that if and when the need arose, staff were able to put their families first.  I believe that I and the Governors rightly showed compassion for any staff who experienced difficulties in their personal lives.  I would do this time and time again.

I believe we offered a unique school experience that gave memorable opportunities that were enjoyed not just by the children, but also staff, parents, carers and the Radstock community. 

Staff went all over the country on trips to places such as ‘the Houses of Parliament’ and even abroad to France and Romania.  Staff were encouraged to visit places broadening the horizons of our children and their learning experiences.  I will not reel off the list of visitors, many well known, to the school, as there really would be too many to mention.  Dance, art, music and sports specialists were included weekly within our curriculum, enabling teachers to learn their craft from the very best.  Special needs therapists were employed to support teaching staff thus providing excellent role models to those new teachers entering the profession.

Staff would often return from events, trips and activities stating ‘this does not feel like a job’.  The opportunities open to them were numerous.

As a school we had the privilege and honour to be visited by Baroness Doreen Lawrence. As a teacher, to experience and witness the immeasurable influence that someone like Baroness Lawrence has on children and staff is heart wrenching but at the same time empowering.  No amount of teacher training at university can compare to this. 

Baroness Lawrence, who has suffered such deep tragedy and injustice, shows a generation of teachers and children that you can positively affect the world.  We experienced this first hand. I know many children learnt valuable lessons that they will be able to use in later life. 

I will be forever grateful for this and know that I have a responsibility to ensure that the name of Stephen Lawrence should and will never be forgotten.

I have strong and fond memories of Baroness Lawrence releasing doves after the unveiling of a statue that we placed in the school grounds.  The inscription on the statue read ‘And Still I Rise’.  Baroness Lawrence opened a special stilling room inside the school, dedicated to the life of her son Stephen. 

These moments were captured in photographs that I cherish.  Many of these are contained within the beautiful ‘Ten years at Trinity’ memory book presented to me by staff, parents and children in July 2015.

Ten years at Trinity was a long and happy period of my life.  I had two small children when I first started as the head in 2005 and my wonderful husband and best friend Martin could see that I loved every minute of my work.  He has always been hugely supportive of the hours I dedicated to something that gave me such joy and satisfaction.  I could not have done it without him.  By this, I do not just mean in my early days of teaching when he used to come in and help me back the display boards of my classrooms, buy endless resources for lessons or even hand make my costumes for World Book Day!  Placing water filled rubber gloves in the ice compartment of our freezer and carefully peeling back mysterious ‘ice hands’ to deposit in the school grounds to help my pupils with creative writing, are tasks I am convinced he relished!  His support has not only been practical.  As any head teacher will tell you, the unconditional support of your loved ones is often the only thing that can get you through some of the toughest days. 

This post has been about learning and reflection.  It is said ‘you never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have’.  Thank you Martin, for giving me the strength, determination and courage to be the best that I can be.  For being my light during the darkest of days.  As a family, the last two years has made us stronger and brought us closer. 

‘Home is where the HART is’.