A slightly unusual Saturday morning message from me, but I have a spare monent after welcoming our prospective Year 7 pupils, from a variety of different settings outside of Cransley, into School to carry out their selection assessments.
It is a pleasure to host such a group of potential new pupils, all a little nervous, in a kaleidoscope of uniforms, but all keen and prepared. We will have some very difficult decisions ahead this week.
Four Three letter words
I asked our Senior School pupils during assembly ‘what three letter word is annoying but needed, dull and broadly miserable to many, but inescapable and required’.
“Ice” was a suggestion eagerly and innocently suggested by a keen Year 7. “Mud” astutely said another*. Thankfully no one suggested “You” which was a blessing, although I'm sure not far from people’s lips.
The following assembly on ‘Tax’ (the correct answer called by a Y9 pupil - it’s in the family!) was scripted for pupils to know exactly what the circumstances were around the introduction of VAT on school fees. At Cransley, we have never taken for granted the extraordinary cost of private education, and I regularly begin every term’s staff training with an outline of our school fees, so that colleagues - not that they need reminding - are fully conscious of the commitment and investment that parents are making to their child’s education. I must thank parents for their efforts in inevitably restructuring their lifestyles and finances to meet this imposed cost. I know what it will have taken for so many families.
Equally, it is important that our (Senior) pupils know this also. We take pride in our pupils having a sense of ‘privilege’ - not that they are superior or wealthier than others, but rather that they are grateful, fortunate and aware of the opportunities made available to them, and show that gratitude to parents in a meaningful variety of ways. For pupils across all independent schools, the rapid imposed increase in fees means that the acceptability for falling below potential, or coasting, or failing to take full advantage of those opportunities is now near nil. Families will struggle to justify the cost of supporting children who show apathy, disengagement and poor behaviour, and Schools must work with parents to ensure pupils are of a clear mindset.
Pupils are also now aware, as I trust parents are, that the introduction of VAT brings no additional revenue at all into our independent schools. We are simply the conduit for HMRC’s added tax on the value of our services.
What we as a school - like any business - can do, is continue to review our efficiency in terms of how we deliver our curriculum and maintain our learning environment; avoid increasing costs or any compromise to our educational services, and ensure our pupil roll is stable and sustained - hence why I am pleased to have so many apply for our Y7 places. Our financial culture in this regard remains unchanged.
* I struggle to find anywhere rural or semi rural that isn't dominated by mud currently. The Rivers Weaver and Mersey, and even the brimming Ship Canal, are struggling to take water out of the Cheshire plain and certainly on the School Estate our pools and ponds are completely full. This dry week has prevented further problems, but until the Spring begins and warmer temperatures ensue, we are going to continue to need our wellies.
Artificial Intelligence
Our Staff INSET on Monday 6th January (so long ago, it feels!) took us on the next steps in our Artificial Intelligence implementation plan, and how this extraordinary technical power will influence and enhance, and in some ways compromise, our operational and pedagogical practice.
I am very keen for Cransley to be at the cutting edge of AI use in education
I will write to parents with a more detailed Head’s journal entry on our approach to AI, but for now, our focus has been on developing Gemini as our sole integrated tool within our Google Workspace for Education, with particular focus on the following:
The creation of a robust but aspirant Use of AI Policy;
The suitable safeguarding and acceptable user agreements by staff and pupils over the age of 13;
The necessary data protection protocols so that no sensitive individual information is shared with Gemini, as well as an investment in locking down the Gemini tool to our own workspace, so that when school users access the Gemini app as a core service, their prompts ‘chats’ and uploaded files won't be reviewed by human reviewers or otherwise be used to improve generative AI models.
The technical enabling of the AI tool within our strict school-based filtering and monitoring systems;
Careful examination of the Google privacy terms and conditions to ensure privacy, intellectual property, transparency, overseen by a school Digital Management and Review Team which I will chair personally.
Clear parameters as to when pupils and staff can suitably and effectively utilise AI in their learning, with transparency and critical review.
I would be very interested to know a little more about the parental perception of AI and would encourage readers to take part in this short AI Acceptability questionnaire. Please. It would be very useful to curate our AI development.
Christingle
Having been unable to attend the Senior School Carol Service on our last day of term, I was pleased to see our Junior School in their Christingle service yesterday - a reflection event after the busy Christmas period, and an opportunity to acknowledge those children around the world who are vulnerable and in need. Although a secular school, the time to reflect and show gratitude is much needed by adults and children alike, and St Mary’s Church is no finer local setting for this to take place.
Our visiting prospective pupils are now finished and we will see this relieved and happy lot to their waiting parents, and I wish you all a lovely weekend.