12th July 2024
HEADLINES
By James Saunders
IT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE As we approach the end of term feeling a sense of exhaustion I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on another great year at Honywood. Where do I begin? Well, the sensible place to start is the start of the year. We came back from the summer after a highly successful year ready to take things forward. The one thing we did not predict was RAAC. I still remember the phone call that came just before we were scheduled to return in September. RAAC was another challenge in a long line of challenges and disruptions our learners have had to endure. There have been so many challenges and so many unexpected demands on learners, families and staff throughout the last few years we leave the year wondering what will happen to us next. As always our learners have been great. Not once have they faltered or not risen to the challenges placed upon them. Out of all of us I think the learners have weathered the storm the best. For me it has been their positivity, their camaraderie and their altruistic ethos of caring for each other that has certainly got me through the past year - our learners are what make our community special. I would like to thank you for your unwavering support over the past year and for the many kind messages you have sent me. Every day, no matter how I have been feeling, I have walked through the doors of Honywood and felt a sense of support from our whole community; a calmness that comes from the security of being part of a caring community. I think that is the culture you have all contributed to cultivating here at Honywood. Of course there have been strains and struggles throughout the year - it is the byproduct of our relationship model. Our learners all deserve a rest now. In one week we will be handing them over to you, their families, for the summer break. Now is the time for them to
devote themselves to those things they love; to take time out and to immerse themselves in endeavours that are completely separate from school. So at the end of yet another “year like no other” consisting of remote learning; blended learning; delivering live lessons; vacating half the school; asbestos removal; building half a school within 4 weeks and countless fire drills, we can look back and be proud that we got through it. It has been incredibly difficult to manage all that on top of running a school. We may have made a few mistakes along the way but looking back I am proud of how we have managed. When we return, the plan, and indeed the expectation, is that we will be able to return back to normal. We are currently on track to complete the RAAC work in the school so that we can move back in. The deadline is very tight and the work will take us right up to the end of the summer holidays. We will still have access to Space Village, our temp buildings, should we not be able to move fully back into the main building. Who knows what challenges lie ahead. I have received confirmation that we are on the School Rebuilding Programme List and will begin the feasibility work in April next year. Whatever challenges are round the corner it is clear that our learners have proven to be resourceful, adaptable and up for any challenge. Thanks everyone. Kind regards
James Saunders