Sad News

It saddens me to start my first blog of the new academic year with some devastating news I received over the summer. The day after we said goodbye to Bill our Network manager we learned about a tragic accident that cut short the life of his daughter Bryony in Australia. She was 21.

Funerals are never easy. Sitting listening to all the readings about Bryony it was immediately evident what a special person she was and the many amazing qualities she possessed. Bryony had a zest for life and a curiosity in the world around her. She valued family and friends, investing heavily in them and cared deeply for them. For Bill and his family this tragic event has left a hole in their lives that can never be filled.

As parents and educators we can only hope that our children grow up to have these qualities and to have the same compassion and inquisitiveness for the world around them. As significant adults in our children’s lives we play a central role in helping them to develop in this way. It is a real credit to Bill and Carol that Bryony was the person she was.

Talking to Bill, he said the massive response, the words of sympathy and the compassion shown from the many people that donated to a Just Giving page, raising money to support the family deal with the practicalities of Bryony’s death, was a real support throughout the whole ordeal.

As a school I feel it is important that we play a role in talking and teaching our children about compassion and understanding. This year part of our School Development Plan is rooted in Values and Citizenship Education. A central component of this will be to promote positive values, such as equality, tolerance and respect.

The recent images and news reports of the mass immigration into Europe and the suffering of people making such dangerous journeys, has highlighted to me even more as a Headteacher the importance and need for our children to understand, tolerate and feel empowered to help those in need. I want our children to feel that as well as raising money, they have a voice in the world around them, and that their voice and actions together, can make a difference to others, just as it did for both Bill and his family.