By Geoffrey Stanford, Headmaster of Newcastle Royal Grammar School.
As parents, we all want our children to succeed in life but, probably more than anything else, we want them to be happy.
In many ways, these two things are closely linked and I have often said that “happy children learn.” Indeed, research shows that there is a clear relationship between developing positive friendships at school and academic success. It is perhaps no surprise therefore that one of the four pillars of the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle (RGS) ethos is a sense of belonging. By design, we want every child to feel at home and to thrive.
It has therefore been a pleasure to hear from new parents how well their children have settled in at the RGS during the beginning of the autumn term. One only has to watch the positive interactions between contemporaries every day in school to see this but it is also good to hear the same impression from parents too. While talking to parents on the touchline of a sports match, one parent recently commented to me on their relief when their child volunteered that they were “finally in the right school for them.” Others at the school gate in the morning have commented on how excited their children are going into school each morning.
That said, it is not unusual for young people to face challenges at some point as they grow up and we are in no way complacent. When for whatever reason children are unhappy, it can be traumatic both for the child and the parents. Indeed, it has been said that parents are only as happy as their least happy child. Our pastoral team are always available to provide advice and support in school but we have also recently provided both students and parents with access to The Wellbeing Hub, by an organisation called ‘Teen Tips’. This is a resource designed by experts to meet the social, emotional and educational needs of young people. Particularly for parents supporting their first child through adolescence, it can be reassuring to have a reliable source of information to hand. This could be about anything from physical or emotional health through anxiety or relationships.
As we always emphasise, exam results are the consequence, not the purpose of an RGS education. However, we understand the importance of equipping both students and parents with the right tools to feel confident and prepared as they approach their public exams. That is why RGS is also working with Elevate Education to provide our students and parents in Years 9 to 11 with study skills support. We aim to equip students with techniques and habits to help them absorb and interpret what they learn in the classroom. Meanwhile for parents, we want to arm them with knowledge and skills to support their child’s learning.
Working with these trusted educational partners – alongside a programme of supplementary ‘RGS Talks’ events and parent webinars covering a variety of topics from SEND support to youth wellbeing – supplements our excellent Learning Support Department and our approach to high-quality Learning and Teaching already provided at the RGS.
Even parents who have already had a number of children through the education system may need support from time to time as no two children are the same. Some children seem to go through life with relatively few bumps along the way while others need far more support. That said, I sometimes worry about those who seemingly go through life succeeding at everything, wondering how they will cope with adversity when they do encounter it. So, while we want things to go well, there are important life lessons that can be drawn from when things are tough.
It is always important to remember the triangle of support that exists between the child, the parent and the teacher. Everyone wants the best for the child and teachers often gain most satisfaction from seeing the success of those with whom they have had to work hardest along the way.
www.rgs.newcastle.sch.uk