Dear Parents and Families
The Estate never fails to impress, especially when gazing over the top of my screen at the snow-capped landscape, as the ten hours’ light is abating, and a late bird wings across. (Bit of Thomas Hardy poetry in that sentence there, for you literary experts).
The weather has presented many challenges to us over the last week (and thank you to all of our careful drivers), and there is more to come with Storm Bert’s arrival overnight.
At Day Close in November
The beautiful view, and the fortune I enjoy in having it, is indeed in stark contrast to the dreary Coventry conference room hosting a conference I attended last week.
With talk of VAT issues, financial pressures, closures and mergers, ‘vulnerable’ leadership*, the impact of AI on education, marketing, nationally declining levels of pupil behaviour, and of course the corridored rows of sales representatives peddling their Edtech wares, as I spilled machine-manufactured pastry and cheap coffee over their over-logoed merch, everyone seemed really rather miserable.
Therefore it is rather nice to return to the pleasures of Cransley and the joy of our pupils scattered across the classrooms, engaged with their various learnings, and to meet many parents in similarly buoyant moods. How lucky we are! I did hope that the peaceful snow scene would continue for our Year 7 experience day tomorrow morning, but fear Bert has other ideas.
Indeed in that respect, we are in line to have yet another full year 7 next year - something which is vital to maintain future financial health and security - with over 40 applications already received for the 20 places available. This alone makes me and the finance team very content.
A little thank you to them: Mrs Gordon and Mrs Dunning have been remarkable as Mrs Parrott continues her convalescence at home, dealing with a number of issues and laying the necessary administration in advance of VAT registration and interpretation of the technical requirements and substantial changes ahead. We wish Mrs Parrott a swift recovery nonetheless.
* the latest pseudo-psychological buzzword - to be demonstrated alongside ‘real’ leadership, ‘authentic’ leadership and ‘genuine’ leadership. One has to wonder whether there are twice as many leadership coaches as there are actual leaders these days… and how many of those developing leaders are actually suffering from being invulnerable, unreal and inauthentic.
The Foundation Fireworks display and bonfire was wonderfully organised, attended and executed with over 450 guests finding their way up the driveway, and I gather at least 300 burgers and hotdogs were demolished over the course of the evening. Well done to the 150 who abstained from the appeal of Chef’s french onions. I am still picking the flavour from my beard.
My thanks to the Foundation volunteers and all others involved in its perfect arrangement, and those parents with 4x4s who risked all by parking on our field. The proceeds incredibly exceeded £4,000 and every penny has been transferred straight into the library fund in readiness for the next major fitting of furniture in the coming weeks. Watch this space.
Whilst talking of money matters, please look out for a forthcoming update on our financial management of the four-fold impact of the recent government budget (VAT, NI, Business Rates and the minimum wage) and the associated enabling financial prudence and review of our operational efficiency that would be expected of us, as we focus on taking Cransley forward in educational provision and development of the facilities and the Estate. We know things are going to be tough for everybody, but, for our part, we are doing all we can to maintain these principles going forwards with awareness, sympathy, optimism and intent.
On a practical note, my sources up amongst the highest echelons of the NHS inform me that the RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is at record local levels currently, and yet we still fail to wash hands properly, forget to disinfect door handles and pick our noses whilst waiting at the traffic lights. You would think we would learn by now. It would be lovely if we could prevent Cransley becoming the devil’s den of disease which most schools end up being at this time of year. We will remind pupils and staff to regularly wash hands often and properly, maintain our high cleanliness and sanitation levels and more. We would appreciate you doing the same at home.
Thank you for your ongoing support, loyalty and optimism. Let’s keep ourselves warm and dry and happy and healthy and always rather lovely (and now and then, absolutely unreal)
Have a great weekend,
Mr R Pollock
Headteacher
At Day-Close in November
The ten hours' light is abating,
And a late bird wings across,
Where the pines, like waltzers waiting,
Give their black heads a toss.
Beech leaves, that yellow the noon-time,
Float past like specks in the eye;
I set every tree in my June time,
And now they obscure the sky.
And the children who ramble through here
Conceive that there never has been
A time when no tall trees grew here,
That none will in time be seen.
by Thomas Hardy
