An amazing Open Evening!

I’m writing this later than usual on a Thursday night, having just come home from this year’s Open Evening. I’m still buzzing from the event and so as I won’t sleep for a while I thought I’d write this week’s blog now. I really enjoy Open Evening. It’s the one occasion in the year that we get to show off our school to the outside world, and it never fails to amaze me how positive the evening always is. Firstly, we were very busy tonight – and that is always a good sign. We know that Marple Hall is a heavily over-subscribed school but we never take that for granted, and I am always humbled by how many people want to come and see the school for themselves. It’s a real honour to be able to speak to so many visitors over the three formal talks, and especially so to be able to share the floor with Rachel and Freddie, our fantastic Head Girl and Head Boy. I hope that between us we were able to get across a little bit about what makes MHS special.

Secondly, I love walking around the school and seeing the staff taking an obvious pride in their work. We are blessed with a great team of experts here, whether that be expert teachers or expert members of support staff, and seeing everyone pull together to showcase our school is wonderful.

Thirdly, it is great to be able to chat to parents and carers of prospective future students. There is always a mix of people from those for whom this is their first time looking into secondary schools, where the information can be a little overwhelming, to many familiar faces who have been through the process once, twice or many times before. And then of course there are plenty who came to MHS as children themselves, talking about what subjects used to be where and who used to sneak off round the back for a cigarette…! Whatever the circumstances I really enjoy chatting to parents and carers, answering questions and hopefully reassuring them that MHS is a great place for students to thrive.

Finally, and most importantly, I love seeing current students volunteering to help out at Open Evening. We are never short of offers and tonight was no exception. Students of all ages were in school in great number – too many to count – and their pride in the school was clear to see. It is an absolute pleasure to work with such fantastic young people and I have never been prouder to be the Headteacher at MHS.

One more day to go then a well deserved weekend awaits.

Best wishes

Joe Barker

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