Executive Principal’s Blog – 21.4.23 ‘Remember to Show your Appreciation – it Matters’
I would like to thank all staff for their ongoing hard work and commitment to the students of Bushey Meads School. Despite the very challenging times that we in the education profession find ourselves in, a number of staff at Bushey Meads were still prepared to give up their precious and well deserved holiday time to run additional classes for our Year 11 and 13 cohorts and continue to dedicate their unpaid lunchtimes and hours after school and during the evenings to supporting the students in their care.
One example of this ‘going the extra mile’ was seen in the number of staff arranging and supporting the superb GCSE Drama Examination Performance Evenings that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. One of the superb set designs and performances is pictured above.
The vast majority of parents recognise this and quite rightly show their genuine thanks and appreciation. Unfortunately, this is spoilt by a small minority of parents who continue to criticise staff and undermine the goodwill that is so needed in our challenging profession. I would ask all parents to carefully consider their communication with the school and do their best to encourage and support the school and the hard-working staff in whatever way they can.
We are all aware of the national recruitment crisis in the teaching profession, exacerbated in schools on the border of London, and we all need to do everything we can to retain and value our staff here at Bushey Meads.
As a reminder, due to the large number of staff in the NEU at Bushey Meads School and the continued strike action planned for the next two weeks, the school will have to close on Thursday 27th April and Tuesday 2nd May 2023. Please remind and encourage your children to complete as much work as possible at home on these days on the varied online platforms available.
These include SAMLearning, MyMaths, Dr Frost Maths, Educake, SENECA Learning and GCSE BiteSize. Do remember that even just 30 minutes a week of work on SAMLearning has been proven to improve a student’s GCSE grade by as much as 2 whole grades.
With the limited staff on site we can once again offer to Year 11 and 13 students only the option of coming into school next Thursday and the following Tuesday to complete independent learning in supervised learning zones. Year 11 students should register and remain in the Learning Resource Centre and Year 13 students should register and remain in the Sixth Form Centre. Students wishing to take up this opportunity will be offered a limited break and lunchtime catering service via the School Restaurant.
We do once again apologise for the disruption caused by the ongoing strikes but want to reassure you that, despite the challenges currently being experienced across the education landscape, all staff continue to support all students at Bushey Meads in and beyond the classroom with their ongoing learning and achievement.
Another example of the genuine appreciation for the brilliant staff we have at BMS came through in a number of lovely emails received by the school after the recent residential trip to Italy arranged by Ms Hanbury our outstanding Deputy Head of Faculty for Design and Technology – a trip that again took place during the teachers’ holiday.
Dear Mrs Hanbury, Mr Chalkley, Miss Stanton and Miss Amao,
We have just sat with our son round the kitchen table while he talked us through everything you’ve all done this past few days. Wow! Brilliant itinerary – such a wide variety of sightseeing, as well as hands-on activities to participate in. Fabulous food tasting (he said the meal at the farm was absolutely delicious). Time spent away with friends – always the best. A child returned who seems to have matured by 4 years rather than 4 days!! And a good dose of vitamin D – thanks to some Italian sunshine and plenty of fresh air. We know how stressful such a responsibility can be for the teachers leading the tour….(26 passports to look after for a start) and want you to know how much we appreciate all you’ve done this week – and all the organisation in the lead up as well. Wishing you a restful Easter break!!
Year 11 Parents
It is the authentic thanks and heartfelt appreciation from you as parents and carers that matters so much – genuinely recognising the amazing work that staff do in these challenging times to make a real difference in children’s lives. Do keep it up!
As always do click on the link to read this week’s BMS News highlighting some of the things that have been happening in our learning community this week.
Jeremy Turner
Executive Principal
