Headteacher's Blog #2

Last night was our first September open evening in years. There has been a tradition here of conducting our open evening in the summer term, so this was a significant change for the school. I'd like to thank parents and carers for their support of an early finish yesterday; I couldn't find any other way of getting the school cleaned and prepared otherwise, your patience is appreciated.

There was a real sense last night of a school with confidence and clarity. Nearly two hundred of our students were involved as tour guides and ambassadors and they did the school proud: they were polite, articulate and well presented. Our staff too were professional and enthusiastic about the school and its future. We are the first school out of the blocks on the Fylde coast this year, so we hope that we have set a high bar for parents to compare other schools to.

As I enter my second year of headship at the school, I am delighted by the way that our young people have responded. They are standing taller, looking smarter, displaying better manners and demonstrating pride in being LSA. Deportment is an old-fashioned idea but is as relevant to children in a state funded comprehensive school as it is to those in fee paying or faith schools; in fact, it is more relevant because our young people are going to be competing with them for opportunities in the future. Large comprehensive schools, when they begin to realise their potential are not lesser; in fact, they are better. Humility, when combined with character and resilience is unstoppable. I hope that this is what our visitors felt when they visited us last night. Thank you again for all of your support.