This week I have had cause to reflect on how the role of Head Teacher differs from my previous role as Deputy. I was always very aware of how we served our local community, but as Head this is becoming the thing I hold most dear and increasingly informs the decisions I find myself making.

When looking at a local map with school catchment boundaries printed on, I enjoy the sense that pretty much every child between 11-16 (and many up to 18) within those lines has something in common – they are part of Myton. It is the thing that binds together all the children and their families and can, if developed, give us all a sense of belonging to the same community rather than just living and working together. 

I see the community at work all the time: with children supporting each other in productions, in sports and around the site every day; with families in and out of school working with us and each other; with the Friends of Myton School (FOMS), parents who volunteer to raise money for the benefit of all children so that their experience at Myton can be that bit better; with Governors (all local and volunteers) spending endless hours in school in their important roles; and at times of tragedy, as we have seen recently, with children, staff and families taking the time to support each other in the community.

Our Governors are currently working to renew the strategic vision for the school for the next few years. As with all parts of school life, a sense of community needs dedication and will be a key part of our strategic planning. Ultimately, I would like every child and every family who lives and attends from within our catchment (or attends Myton from out of catchment) to see us as a centre of the community and help and support others who currently don’t feel part of our community. This is something which will improve the lives of all the young people who live within those lines on the map.