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MY SCHOOL DAY RADNOR HOUSE

MY SCHOOL DAY

by Stephen Carrington, Senior Deputy Head of Radnor House School Twickenham

THE REAL BEAUTY OF MY JOB AND WORKING IN SUCH A VIBRANT SCHOOL, IS THAT NO TWO DAYS ARE EVER THE SAME. THAT MAKES DESCRIBING A TYPICAL ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’ A LITTLE DIFFICULT, BUT HERE GOES…

0730

Having dropped my two daughters off at the childminder’s, I arrive at school just after. First stop is to our wonderful terrace café and Fran, our onsite barista, for the obligatory cappuccino, before answering emails that may have filtered through overnight, updating the Head on the key events/issues for the day ahead. If time allows, I will pop down to breakfast club and chat to the pupils about their latest D of E expedition, upcoming geography trip to Iceland, or yesterday’s hockey fixture, over a bowl of Special K, or bacon roll (my Friday treat…). most particularly seeing the awe and wonder on the pupils’ faces when they are gripped by a novel or moved by a poem.

0815

Fuelled for the day, I greet the pupils on the front gate.

0830

Year group assemblies that run between 8:30 and 8:45 every morning of the week, celebrating pupil successes and achievements of the previous seven days and covering topics as wide ranging as equality and diversity, the latest political developments to World Book Day.

0930

Head to our stunning riverside terrace where I lead an informal discussion about the school with prospective pupils and parents before they enjoy a tour led by some of our pupils. 1000

Teach Year 7 the dark art of writing Gothic literature and focusing on the macabre and haunting ‘Woman in Black’. Time spent in the classroom will always be the most enjoyable part of the job and, being an English teacher by trade,

1200

Lunch begins for our youngest cohorts. Pupils and staff are greeted with meat and vegetable options on the hot counter, a variety of salads from the salad bar, as well as pasta, soup and jacket potatoes. With the menu changing daily, choices are always tough. I plump for the Thai green chicken curry, followed by a fresh fruit salad and while scoffing it down I digest the outcomes of the School Council’s discussions about charitable exploits for the year ahead, with a group of Year 10 pupils.

1400

The afternoon is equally eventful, beginning with an Upper 6th lesson on the relationship between Iago and Othello in ‘Othello’, before meetings with marketing to discuss our approach to open days in a world beginning to ‘live with Covid’. Also meet with our Deputy Head Pastoral to review the school’s extensive provision for educating our pupils on respect (one of our four core values) and diversity and inclusion.

1600

Wave goodbye to many of the pupils before leading the school’s golfers down to Strawberry Hill Golf Club, where I am reminded of my utter ineptitude at the game, as our budding Rory McIlroys show me how it is done.

1700

The clubs programme comes to an end, the final buses depart, and I prepare for another day.

Radnor House is holding two autumn open days on 2 October and 13 November.

For details: www.radnor-twickenham.org

You can also find out more via social media @radnorhousechooltw

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