Mr Wilding's words Autumn week 11

What a difference a year makes. Whilst Covid-19 still swirls through the community, families and school, we now have major vaccination and regulatory testing in place so that school itself is absolutely full on and working in full technicolour. And whilst that sounds a good thing in principle, in practice it means we are back to the 'whole' education piece, creating a safer and fairer society whilst at the same time making sure that 'stuff' academic, pastoral and athletic take place. And that 'piece' actually is more than a bit messy, as the recent stabbing of adolescent children by their peers in Liverpool, Croydon and Southall exemplify. PC Angela Feroucci was in school both Tuesday and Wednesday this week spending an hour with year 9 tutor groups to alert them to the dangers of knife crime; the Thames Valley Police have been excellent at supporting schools in these endeavours and we welcome PC Ferricci's time spent with us on other matters.
Whilst Claires Court prides itself on its pastoral and relationship work led by teachers with their pupils, I can't as Head of Senior Boys remain blind to the reality of life in 2021, and embedding our values of responsibility for ourselves and respect for others so they become second nature to adolescents demands our full attention every day. Last Friday, I led Year 10's assembly, highlighting the dangers of prejudice and the damage that causes in a peer group if boys don't make better, informed choices. As I write, boys from Year 7 through to Year 11 are considering their progress towards their first or next key values award, and in so many positive ways the vast majority are indicating step by step how they are proving they are making the progress we'd wish.
This week, we welcomed Executive Head, Justin Spanswick back from his isolation, having succumbed to Covid 19 10 days previously. Mr Steve Young sends his regards to Year 10 and of course to all the boys he teaches; back home he is making a good recovery and we look forward to seeing him back at school in January. And finally, well done to the U15 team whose last minute victory over Windsor boys in the county cup will go down in their memory banks for a lifetime.
With all the best for the weekend.
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