Secrets of the Universe: Fifteen Hundred and Still Counting

After a long flight from South America, I find myself alone, cold and shivering in Europe again, waiting for a connecting flight in Lisbon at 6.00am. From 35 degrees to near zero and a cold wind whistling through the coffee-free and Wi-Fi unfriendly waste that called itself a transit lounge.



















The next day, and still jet lagged but protesting rude health, Judith Morgan (wisely) prevents me from attempting assembly. Nat Parnell is on top form with the remarkable statistic that teachers typically ‘enjoy’ 1,500 interactions every day. These are the live ones with students and he explains the need for them to be positive. Add in a similar number for emails and you can see why teachers never stop. Any other profession would be on a go slow but, strangely, we always think we are doing too little.

By Monday, though, the email system is down (no fault of the Thin Controller- some suspect internal sabotage) and we have a quiet day wondering what is building up in our out-of-reach in-boxes. But, of course, none of the staff can send emails or receive them so when the all clear comes and the bleeps return, it’s largely an anti-climax. We all wonder if an email-free day ought to be school policy- no email Friday, perhaps.

We try the electronic system to review budget papers at the Governors’ Meeting that night, rather than printing copies for everyone. It works well for text but we discover numbers are too tricky. With lights on or off, we are left squinting at rows of statistics that are too small to read. Back to the drawing board- literally the paper system. It’s my fault for trying to be too clever.

Science Week is here and from rockets to explosions, it’s all systems go. Phil Atherton proudly shows me his experiments in creating bio fuel. His group of lunch time scientists are busy boiling and stirring a yellow liquid that he tells me will fuel his car! And it will cost 12p a litre rather than £1.10. I can understand the economics and pretend to follow the Science. But the next day, my spies tell me the fuel has turned to jelly.

Then it’s on to Primary Body Language- an amazing array of dances and dancers from each of our link schools. They are colourful, energetic and great fun. Parents applaud enthusiastically and the children have a great introduction to their new secondary school. (These are the lucky ones- there are 54 on the waiting list for next year).

And whilst these performances are going on, in the Science labs (there are only eight instead of twelve so easy not to miss), Parent and Child Science Evening offers our students the chance to become teachers for the evening- with their parents as the pupils. Now how many interactions does that involve? It’s another very successful evening with a very tired team of Science teachers at the end of it who must have counted well beyond fifteen hundred that day. Perhaps the secret of the universe isn’t 42 after all!

Our Third Trust Board Meeting on Thursday reviews some great progress in research with Exeter University from Karl Husband (who is now a tutor there on Tuesday evenings) and from the Maths team- briefed from Yusof Othman. We have also made progress on our aspiration to take the school into the home electronically through our Capita partner.

The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust is planning a new national network of Trust partners. We’re delighted to be guests at the inaugural dinner in two weeks’ time and to be one of four schools invited to do a presentation. Our Capita partner will be represented- Brian Hodge, Trustee and Governor, and Phil Neal, Chief Executive of Capita Children’s Services.

By Friday, I’m realising how those 1,500 interactions can take their toll. And the week isn’t over at the end of the day. It’s back for the second night of an uplifting Body Language- over 200 students performing with live music for many pieces. With energy levels this high, they must be bio fuel injected. I’m reminded why so many of us enjoy working here and remain committed to South Dartmoor: the wonderful young people and the remarkable standards they achieve.
As we finish the evening, we’re told that some staff and students will be in all weekend for A level and GCSE practical examination preparation. Just describing it all is exhausting. But, however many interactions we have in an average week, it’s better than sitting shivering alone in an airport transit lounge. And more good news- the fuel is liquid again and it works! Science and Body Language Week end with bang.