If it's Tuesday it must be the Secretary of State...

We’ve been blitzed this week! It’s like hosting a twenty four hour party but when the guests leave another lot arrive.

On Monday Sharnbrook School, Bedford came to see our Trust work and look at our data and reporting systems. They are also a Trust School with Capita Children’s
Services so it was fascinating to see what their projects looked like. They met the BECTA Five- Student Council members who are brilliant at explaining how we use data. Lunch in CTC was as impressive as ever and ended with our superb students racing off to RS period 4 carrying doggy bags of left overs- profiteroles and cream. (Sh… we are a Healthy School really).

Next it was the turn of our SIP. This stands for School Improvement Partner- and Roger Fetherston, Head of Devon Education Services, is a great partner to have, so wide is his knowledge. During interview Tuesday, he approved our priorities for the coming year, gave stimulating feedback, drank copious amounts of coffee and survived the roller coaster ride of meetings with the South Dartmoor Leadership Team. They have to be the most dynamic team never to feature on The Apprentice. Eat your heart out, Sir Alan. No you can’t have them. I hired them first.

By Wednesday, we were in full party mode- just wheel in the next visitor. This was the new Director of Teaching and Learning from Devon LA. I always enjoy working with energetic, decisive professionals and Devon is fortunate to have recruited a whizz. But she was taught Geography as a pupil by the current Head of Coombeshead. As she thought she was at Dartmouth rather than Dartmoor, for the first ten minutes we had a surreal conversation. Who said teachers make a life-long difference!

Thursday and the paperwork and emails are mounting. I have a million things to do. My inbox is fuller than the College car park (never a space) and the partying goes on. A head from Dorset spends a morning talking Trusts and vertical pastoral systems. Again, we see how much what we are doing here is valued. Notes are taken. Maybe there’s a film deal in this one.

Friday and we host our local MP, Sir Anthony Steen. This is always a pleasure because I’m fascinated by politicians and love to hear about what is going on in the House of Commons from the members themselves. By coincidence I receive an invitation to a meeting next week with the Secretary of State, Ed Balls. I have to provide a résumé for him on the school and my role. Scary.

The party continues next week when Chris Hassell, Deputy here from 1990-1996 makes a return, fact-finding visit. Twenty four hour party people. Watch out Secretary of State.