I hope you enjoyed half term. I spent the first part of mine dreading a visit to the dentists.
You see I discovered, aged 14 and courtesy of a golf club to my nose, I hated the sight of blood. This was a bit of a blow as I’d set my heart on being a dentist.
I should add at this point the drawing of blood on the golf course was an accident. I just got too close.
But the incident meant I had to change my plans. I had thrown all my eggs into one basket, with the other basket empty.
From that moment, I focused on becoming a teacher not a dentist.
Anyway, off I went to the dreaded but regular appointment last week. For the first time, it was with a dental therapist. I had never heard of the role.
When my name was called out my heart was beating to excess. I went up the stairs, knocked on the door and entered.
Two young female professionals greeted me on the other side. They could tell I was nervous but soon put me at (relative) ease with their brilliant communication.
They asked about what I did for a living, talked about my plans for the week and explained what they were going to do. I knew at this point I was going to see my own blood.
I was there an hour, during which I asked what was a dental therapist?
She was not a dentist but her course had been fully funded by the NHS. She studied in Sheffield as she did not want to travel far from home.
Fully qualified and registered with the NHS, she has flexibility with the practices she can work for. It had worked out perfectly for her and she is a credit to her profession.
While I was sitting in the dentist’s chair with various implements in my mouth, I distracted myself further by thinking of my own career plan switch.
It is a lesson for our students. If something unexpected happens, you can change tack. And there are lots of opportunities out there they (or their teachers) might not have thought of or be aware of.
I tell the story as we prepare for National Careers Week, which starts on Monday, 6th March.
To our young people I say please listen to the advice and guidance given during the week. Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities. Prepare to be flexible.
Take advantage of all the things being planned, something we did not have in my time at school.
There might well be something that you’d not thought about, openings you never thought were possible.
Thank you to my inspirational new acquaintance at the dentist. Hopefully, I won’t dread my next appointment quite as much.
A key date for Year 11 is next Thursday, 2nd March. The Final Push Evening is the last opportunity for parents / carers to see how their child is doing and what they can do further to support them ahead of their forthcoming exams.
Students will find out their results from the last set of mocks and see how much grades have improved since their exams last term.
The national tutoring programme, being paid for by the Academy, has been launched this week, with students committing to the subjects they will have additional online coaching sessions for, twice a week, after school.
I ask parents / careers to ensure children are fully engaged in the lessons, which will give them further support.
Our new library will be formally opened by influential author and role model Jeffrey Boakye (pictured) on Friday, 10th March.
I am sure his talks to some of our really deserving children will be inspirational.
It is a visit I shall look forward to.
