Polam Hall School
Awards Night Speech 2010
Mr Mayor, Madam Mayoress, Mr Rose, Governors, Parents and Friends, Staff and Students
When I asked our Guest Speaker for this evening how he would like to be introduced, he replied, ‘Steve Rose, Local Resident’. I feel fairly sure he will expand on this description when he speaks to us a little later. Mr Rose is in fact both a close neighbour of, and a good friend to, our school. He has attended previous Awards Evenings here (perhaps feeling more relaxed than he does right now), and last year he was a very fine adjudicator at our public speaking competition. There can be very few local residents who do not know Steve Rose; he is at the heart of the Darlington community and his contribution to, as well as passion for, the town were evident in his role as Chief Executive of the Darlington Partnership. He is involved professionally with a host of local businesses and institutions; his enthusiasm and wisdom are everywhere apparent – so I have decided that a more fitting introduction is ‘Mr Steve Rose - Local Legend’. Thank you for joining us this evening.
On the back of your programme you will find a quotation from one of this summer’s Upper Sixth leavers: ‘My school life has been so much more than simply ‘going to school, doing the work, coming home’. I have so many happy memories……but I do feel ready to move on. I have been equipped academically, socially and emotionally to enter the world. And that, after all, is what school is for’. These are the concluding sentences of an article written by Suzie Millar, who is now studying Theology at Cambridge University, and her father, Mr Nick Millar who is in tonight’s audience. The article, written for the My Daughter website and available in full on the Polam Hall website, is a father and daughter reflection on the Polam Hall experience. It exemplifies much of what we mean when we speak of Educational Excellence.
Mrs Pelham spoke about our shared journey, a theme we use often in school assemblies. At times this past year the mode of transport has felt less like Rolls Royce and more like rollercoaster. Indeed I now strongly identify with the elderly couple in the TV ad who wonder ‘What kind of cheese was that?’ With its dramatic ups and downs it has certainly been an exciting year during which Governors, staff and students have been prompted to think hard about our core values and about what makes us who we are.
In all of our promotional material we speak of Educational Excellence for All. Tonight we are here to recognise individual successes and to celebrate achievements of many kinds – all of the students receiving awards have demonstrated excellence in one way or another. But what does Educational Excellence really mean? And how do we deliver it? As I reflected on the past twelve months and considered the experiences which have prepared our students for their future, I came up with five qualities which lie at the heart of Educational Excellence and which I believe are at the heart of our school and our Polam Hall identity.
First there is a positive approach to learning and to life. This approach was not only described, but, more crucially, it was embodied by our Head Student, Rebecca Patterson, in her recent presentation on Open Morning. Rebecca was talking about the importance of giving 100% in every endeavour. Drawing on her A level Statistics course, and on her remarkable creativity, Becky then used the familiar code of A=1, B=2, C=3 etc to demonstrate her point. On this basis, KNOWLEDGE adds up to 96%; HARD WORK produces 97%; but, Becky showed us that ATTITUDE equals 100%. What better way can there be to illustrate the importance of a positive approach!
It is surely that combination of knowledge, hard work and the right attitude to learning which led to the superb results we celebrated this summer. The A* grade was introduced at A level for the first time in 2010. Nationally, 7:1% of all papers were awarded A*: at Polam Hall 35% of all exams taken gained this grade; by a long way the best in this area! At GCSE 52% of all examinations secured A* and A grades. We are extremely proud of these results, and no less proud of those students whose grades, whatever they were, exceeded their expectation and were a just reward for effort and determination.
In a year when competition for University places was intense, we rejoiced in the fact that every single one of our Upper Sixth students went on to the courses and institutions of their choice. This is a reflection of the personal and expert guidance our students receive and of the success that results from working together for a shared goal.
Your programme lists the interesting and varied courses our 2010 leavers have gone on to pursue. But what happens to Polam Hall students when they do move on? Over the past five years the drop-out rate from UK universities averages at 25%. By contrast, over that same period, 95% of Polam Hall students went on to complete their courses, and often to excel at this next stage. Indeed I learned recently that Susan Scott, Head Student here in 2006/7, graduated in Medicine from UCL with the highest First Class Honours degree awarded in her year.
This brings me to my second example of Educational Excellence: a willingness to take risks. Many students are trained to ‘play it safe’, but this approach fails to equip them for independent learning and for the challenges which lie ahead. Whether it be on D of E expeditions or as part of our soon-to-be-established Combined Cadet Force, our School diary is filled with examples of ways in which our students are encouraged to be thoughtful risk-takers, ready to move ‘out of their comfort zones’ to borrow Mrs Pelham’s phrase. Obvious examples include the popular PGL Adventure holiday which several girls and boys enjoyed again last July, and the ski trip which was a great success last March. Several students now in U5 or Sixth Form are planning to take part in Operation Walecea (a world-challenge type expedition) in summer 2011 and again in 2012. Pupils love the annual trip to Patterdale and the many excursions which enliven the curriculum. For many, the ‘can-do’ mentality is discovered on the sports field. Our teams continue to enjoy outstanding successes, and we are delighted with the early promise shown by our new Orienteering and rugby teams. Just last week our U15 Netball players won the Town Tournament. Out Athletics squad achieved many honours last summer. How many schools can claim that more than a fifth of their number compete at Town, County or National level? Polam Hall can!
But it is in the day to day experience of creative teaching that our students acquire this crucial aspect of their education. We all know that the best drivers are not necessarily those who pass their test first time. Indeed failure, and learning to be unafraid to make mistakes, teach persistence and ultimately build confidence. In a non-selective school, we recognise readily that we can all learn from each other – both from successes and from the errors we make along the way. Even the Headmistress is allowed to make 3 mistakes in every end of term assembly; although I’m not sure how many I am allowed on Awards Night! It is this background which I believe equips our leavers with the resilience they need as undergraduates or novice employees. In the words of philosopher Eric Hoffer, ‘In times of change, the learners will inherit the world, while the merely learned will remain beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists’.
The third element of my exploration of excellence is the creation of an open mind that can embrace new ideas and make connections. Young people in schools today are likely to face working lives of over 50 years. This is one aspect of their future I do not envy! The idea of ‘a job for life’ is an increasingly unlikely prospect, and perhaps no longer desirable. To be well prepared our students need to be flexible, ready to apply the skills they have learned in new and unexpected ways, and capable of seeing those vital connections. Increasingly universities are employing new examinations such as BMAT and ELNAT which test the candidate’s ability to think. This is a key part of Educational Excellence. At Polam Hall, a creative approach to teaching encourages students to be active thinkers, not passive learners.
The rich and varied extra-curricular programme contributes enormously in this area too. Last year saw the introduction of our Scholars Club where the focus is entirely on intellectual challenges which cross all the curricular and textbook boundaries. Our students become confident learners through experiences such as the Eurolinks event where they use their French, Spanish and German in the company of local businessmen and women who trade with our European partners. Students take part in events such as Maths and Science Olympiads, national debating competitions, the Bannatyne’s Bright Sparks event and a myriad of local and national challenges which always stimulate lively minds. Lauren Resnick, a distinguished American psychologist claims: ‘Intelligence is the sum of one’s habits of mind’. What an encouraging thought!
The fourth ingredient of my recipe for Educational Excellence is crucial – it is the fostering of respect for self and for others. The most valuable gift we can give to our students is a well-grounded self-esteem. We do so by providing abundant opportunities for personal development and growth. I wish parents had the chance to attend the assemblies our students give each Tuesday morning. Everyone takes part and contributes; the results are both thoughtful and thought-provoking and often memorable. One of the many joys of Headship is the opportunity to watch the growth in confidence of individuals over their school career. For some this comes from music, and the concerts we enjoy throughout the school year are always amongst my personal highlights. For others, drama, debating or public speaking provide an outlet for remarkable talent. Last summer term we all enjoyed 3 wonderful performances of ‘Grease’ which were, appropriately for ‘Grease’, slick, smooth and highly polished. Others gain confidence from their art work, proudly displayed around the school. When you go to the dining room later you will be able to see the results of today’s Lower Five Art workshop and I’m sure Mrs Dawson will be delighted to tell you more about it.
Self-esteem comes from both teamwork and leadership experiences. The House system provides a wealth of opportunities for both. House plays, music and sport are healthily but fiercely contested and see students of all ages embodying the Concordia Crescimus motto and achieving excellence in the process. One annual embodiment of both team work and leadership is the Sixth Form Fashion Show – always a sell-out event - and last year raising over £2000 for a children’s hospice.
Our Interact group, our Peer Mentors, our Millennium Volunteers, our team who teach computer skills to the local elderly; all exemplify the spirit of caring for others which is such a vital part of a complete education. In the last academic year our pupils raised over £9000 to support people less fortunate than ourselves at home and abroad.
One thing our Polam Hall students know, and remember to acknowledge, is that they are all part of a very special team. They could not achieve so much and in so many spheres, without the unstinting support of the staff, both teaching and non-teaching. Cleaners and caterers, caretaker and maintenance team, office staff and technicians, boarding and medical staff, classroom assistants, teachers and governors: all play a vital role in our school – all are greatly appreciated and I welcome this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to each and every one. Nothing lifts my spirits more than to hear students expressing their thanks to the adults who do so much on their behalf. Mr Bell’s food continues to be very well received by all – vociferously so by the boys! My particular thanks in this exceptionally busy year go to the Senior Management Team – Mrs Craggs and Mr Carr, Mrs Hardy, Mrs Foster and Mrs Davison. Their support and wisdom is invaluable and very greatly appreciated. The Leadership team work phenomenally hard. They are salaried professionals, although I think they all share with me the view that our main motivation and rewards are not financial. The governors, though, give of their time (lots of it!) and expertise (even bigger lots!) with no pecuniary reward. I am hugely grateful for their commitment and efforts on the school’s behalf. Without Mrs Pelham’s contribution over recent months, our Diamond plan might well have remained a dream rather than a reality.
Last summer we bade farewell to Mrs Margaret Harrison. As a member of the MFL department she shared her love of Spanish and French with all her students. Her gentle, supportive presence is much missed on the top floor of Mounsey, but we are delighted that Mrs Harrison has returned to work with our EFL students this year. Equally happily we still have the pleasure of seeing Mrs Elizabeth Sleightholme who has joined our team of peripatetic musicians and is teaching piano on one day each week this year. Mrs Sleightholme was Head of the Music Department for 23 years and her legacy lives on in the beautiful music we have heard tonight. Generations of pupils had the privilege of being taught by someone who always set, and exemplified, high standards, and embodied all that I have discussed tonight about Educational Excellence. Mrs Sleightholme is succeeded by Miss Caroline Law who joined us in September when we welcomed back Mr Geff Fogg to teach the boys DT and also welcomed Mrs Helen Fletcher (a lady of many talents), Mr John Russell in the Geography Department and Mr Craig Wilkinson our Head of Boys’ Games. I am sure they are all looking forward to the break, but hope that they have enjoyed their first half-term as members of the Polam Hall Diamond School community. Over half-term 43 students accompanied by 4 members of staff leave for a netball tour to Gibraltar. I wish them bon voyage and hope that the sport, the sunshine and the social time are all much enjoyed – Mrs Kate Martin, who inspired the tour and who is responsible for its organisation will not be part of the group, for the happiest of reasons. This half-term marks the beginning of her Maternity Leave and I take this opportunity to wish her well and look forward to seeing the Miss or Mr mini-Martin in due course.
My fifth and final aspect then of Education Excellence is this: an ability to recognise and value – what is truly important. B F Skinner famously claimed “Education is what is left over when you’ve forgotten everything you were taught”. Education gives students a sense of the timeless, an awareness of the spiritual – in the broadest sense – and a profound self-reliance.
In short, our students learn how to be active and lifelong thinkers and learners. Everyone here is delighted that we can share our commitment to Education Excellence with boys and girls in our Diamond School. In Polam Hall School, which retains its traditions but always looks to the future, 2010 has indeed been a momentous year – but in the 21st century I could not find a finer conclusion than these words which conclude the history of our school written by Kathleen Davies in the middle of the last century. They remain timelessly true.
“For good or ill, in the story of Polam Hall, organic growth has been more important than direction down a precise path; its members have opportunity to discover their own identity and to live by that knowledge. The story is, of course, unfinished.”
