[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”26169″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”27901″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”27903″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]By Oona Carlin, Principal

I received an email this week from a former pupil who wanted to let me know about her third year university placement she wrote ‘I couldn’t believe it when I got the call from them [the placement company] and after calling my parents, I thought I should email the person that helped put me on this journey in the first place, you.’

This email could not have come at a better moment in time, as I was picking my way through another COVID 19 challenge at school. It has been a difficult week (well more like a challenging 9 months) when you start to think if it is all worthwhile. You start to wonder if you are making things easier or harder. You wonder if you are leading everyone down the right path. And as is always the case in education am, am I doing the right thing for the children in my care?

On receiving this email saying ‘I just wanted to say thank you because at my first parents evening at Ipswich High, back in year 9, you told me that being a chemist doesn’t have to involve working in a pharmacy and that I would make a good chemist. Those few sentences have had a profound impact on my life.’  You realise the difference you can make. You also realise that you do know what you are doing and that you are always putting the best interests of the children, first. This pupil was a member of the Chemistry class I taught whilst I was Head at my previous School.  This teaching group was my light relief from the meetings that can occupy a school leader’s diary. The pupils will not have realised it at the time but the lessons with them kept me motivated and focused on leading the school in the best way I could.

So as my ex-pupil finished her email to me with: ‘Thank you again for having such an impact on my career and life.’ I would like to thank all of my past and current pupils for having such an impact on my career and life.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]