When I look at Year 12, I see a group of students who were in my first Year Six (1999/2000).
How they have matured and will soon be ready to face an adult future. The Year Six group moving to the Secondary Department in September 2006 were little Reception children when I arrived on a wet, cold January day in 2000.

These pictures show how the student group has changed over six and a half years. Pupils have left, new pupils joined and left! It is to the credit of those students, in all age groups, that have been at EIC for a number of years. They have seen good friends leave and readily welcomed new students. Despite the continual gradual turnabout each year group is cohesive and illustrates daily the ethos of EIC! So much change, growth, changes in curriculum, special events, new resources and yet underpinning these is the stability and strength of the EIC mission for all pupils and staff to be able to achieve to their potential.

In the Primary Department we have worked hard to include the pupils in an understanding of how they learn and what they can do to help themselves in their learning. Year 6 were lucky enough to take part in a workshop with a trainer from the “Learning Partnership”. During the workshop the children were involved in activities that clearly demonstrated to them that they can learn and remember some difficult ideas in a short time. Through the use of a “Mind Map” the children could remember the life story of Marco Polo in ten minutes!

Helping children to be independent learners is a life long task that starts in the earliest stages of the department. Letting children have freedom to explore ideas. Maxamec bought amazing construction equipment for Key Stage One to “let their imaginations run wild”.

When young children come up with an idea it is our task to help them develop it and bring it to reality – within reason! Two Year 3 pupils wanted to raise money for the SOS animal charity. Their idea was a cake sale. With the support to teachers and parents they raised 170 euros. Never before has this amount of money been raised in such a short time – 10 minutes! The picture shows the helpers coping with a flood of customers.

Following the cake sale the organisers and the whole year group felt so important when they presented their cheque to Ben Butler, an SOS volunteer. This activity gave those young children such a sense of achievement for themselves and gained them the praise of older pupils.

After 34 years working within Primary education it never ceases to amaze me how teachers are able to find a new idea for a tried and tested theme! The primary concerts at the end of the Autumn Term are a good example. This year Key Stage One – “Followed the Star” and Key Stage Two “Rocked around the Flock”. All the children took part and there were some excellent individual performances in voice, song, dance and instrumental pieces. There are not very many Primary shows that have a band of expert musicians to accompany them. This is one way in which the primary department benefits from being part of a school from Early Years to Year Thirteen.

The quality of all round education offered to the pupils is something that EIC is very proud of. A parent commented that one talent of the school has been recruiting high quality staff and blending them into a team. I felt that this was a great complement and thank David Sutcliffe (Principal) for his part in this when we do our annual recruitment interviews.

Having the title “Headteacher” gives the post holder a certain aura with the children. The Headteacher is the person who has the ultimate privilege to praise pupils and the sad task of being the ultimate sanction.

This is illustrated well in a piece created by a group of Year 4 pupils when given the topic “a dilemma”.

As I sat outside Miss Pat’s office thoughts were running
Through my mind. Why does she want to see me? Does she know?
I was nervous. My body was sweating, my clothes were sticking to
Me and my hands were slippery. I was fiddling with my fingers, digging
My nails into the palms of my hands. They were red and sore. I was scared
That my heart was beating as loudly as thunder. My legs were shivering
And shaking. It was a good thing that I was sitting down.
I could hear Miss Pat’s footsteps getting closer to the door. They were
Getting louder and louder. I gulped. What would she do?

I end this year by reminding us all:

Children
Are always the only future
The human race has;
Teach them well.
Pat Dodds