Headteacher's Blog
Back21 January 2010
When you apply for a job nowadays you normally receive in the application pack a variety of information: company literature, job description and a list of personal qualities. And when you read down that list of personal qualities you find that they have been categorised as either 'desirable' or 'essential'. One of those essential qualities is, sometimes, a sense of humour. I have always liked those jokes that have a double meaning to them - one that you're not expecting.
A man was caught stealing ladies' purses and, when asked by the judge why he did it he replied, 'I thought that the change would do me good!'
Change is something that is an ever-present part of life and it is unavoidable, so our best way forward is to embrace change and make the most of the changes that take place. As newcomers to the Isle of Man, the Hutt family has experienced a great deal of change in a very short space of time. But the wonderfully warm welcome that we have received from staff, pupils and parents at The Buchan has made adapting to this change very smooth indeed. I hope that warmth and friendliness does not change!
Our Form 4 will experience a change when they complete their studies at The Buchan and begin the next stage of their academic careers at senior school. P3 will feel a similar change when they move into Form 1 later on this year, and we need to do all that we can to help these young people make the most of these changes that are going to happen.
Within school we are looking at all of our protocols and processes to see if we need to change anything - not just for the sake of it but to improve an aspect of school life. Already we have identified an area where we can strengthen the pastoral care offered by the school and have changed the beginning of the afternoon routine so that Form Tutors throughout the school, from P1 to F4, register their own forms after lunch. This way we can build upon the already good relationships that exist between pupils and their Form Tutors, and both can get to know each other just that little bit better. Dare I mention After-School Activities? I can assure you that change is on the way there too and Mr MacGregor has come up with some great ideas for the future.
So, keep an eye on the news letters, the website and these blogs - make that a habit that you don't change.
Alastair Hutt
Deputy Head
