A few weeks ago I attended a Tenants and Residents meeting in Castlecroft. During the visit Paul Stoddart (deputy headteacher) invited me to spend an afternoon at Smestow school and last week I took him up on his kind offer. Paul had arranged for me to meet with about a dozen students to discuss issues relating to the curriculum, school discipline and the support they receive from their families.
The school has a wonderful ethos and I was struck by the candidness and confidence expressed by all the children I spoke to. At a time of increasing concern about knife crime, with relations between differing age groups appearing to be more fractious, it’s vital to maintain a dialogue between teenagers, teachers and parents. Special thanks to Paul and all the staff for allowing me to gain an insight into the school’s workings.
Paul
