Pupils are enjoying the precious last few weeks of the school holidays and a fresh new term is fast approaching for Dartmouth Academy and its 32 teachers. By The Dart spoke to members of staff about their roles and routines.
How long have you been at the school now?
Tina Graham
I have just finished my second year.
You have been working hard to bring the school out of its “inadequate” rating given by Ofsted when you very first arrived - what has improved?
So much! We have better communication with parents - whether by phone, email or home visits. I’m yet to meet a parent who does not want the same as we do for their children – to be the best they can be. Neither parents nor the Academy can do it alone; we have to work together. We have new behavioral management systems and we have changed the curriculum so more time is given to core subjects like English, Maths and Science. Last September I got pupils and every member of staff to write an inspirational quote on a piece of paper and we chose one for each door in the building. So you can’t get away from our uplifting mantra which is to be your best self.
How do the children benefit from an ‘all through school’?
One of the big positives is that primary school children get lessons like French, Art, PE or Science with a secondary school teacher who specialises in that subject in specialised teaching rooms. That is unusual for primaries, usually one teacher teaches a little bit of every subject.
What are the lows of being in charge?
It can be challenging finding the energy to be relentlessly optimistic all the time! A few pupils continue to resist you but slowly they start to understand that we are on their side. We don’t make it comfy and cosy for them - we have to push and challenge them to ‘lift the lid’ on their lives. When they’re in the big wide world they will realise that life can be tough, people don’t make it easy for you and they will be competing with lots of other people for jobs - if we don’t get them ready now - we haven’t done our job.
What time do you start and finish your working day?
I’m up at six and in work just after seven. In the evenings it can be anything between five and nine depending on after school meetings, activities or parents evenings.
Is the life of a principal mainly meetings and paperwork?
Pretty much! Although I am still a teaching head and take Year 11 Geography, I usually fit in a couple of early morning meetings before walking down to greet children from the bus. Then it’s more meetings with parents, pupils, staff or members of the community who want to involve us in a local project. I take my turn doing the corridor patrols - all staff walk round the building to check everything and everyone is where they should be!
Do you take your work home with you?
It’s hard not to - I get about 100 emails a day and it’s not possible to get through those during school hours. If I’ve been teaching there is often marking to do or lesson planning for the following day.
Do you have a family?
Yes, a very understanding husband who is also a teacher, and three children. It’s possible to work around them as we have dinner, put the children to bed and then I have some quiet time to get on and catch up.
You live in East Allington - what do you listen to during the car journeys?
Radio 2. On the way in I’m usually thinking about the first meeting of the day and on the way home I’m trying to work out which after school club I’m supposed to be picking which child up from!
What do you do during your lunch break?
I usually get a jacket potato and go and sit with pupils in the school canteen. They create some delicious meals – lasagne, fajitas, curry – it really is hard to just stick to a jacket potato but I try to be good!
Do the teachers often get together outside the classroom?
We have a get together at the end of the summer term – a ‘bring a dish’ type event where we say goodbye to anyone leaving us. Then there is usually a Christmas do with a Secret Santa. My best present so far has been an inflatable alien’s head, which has come out at a few children’s parties since then!
First published in By The Dart magazine August 2017
