August 2007
The cryptic sign on the back of Heather’s
office door reads, “Misi Griyn uweys lafs”. It’s
the head teacher’s mantra and translates from
five-year old speak into adult language as, “Mrs
Green always laughs.”
Woodsetts Primary School is nestled between the manicured gardens
and charming, cottage-like houses of Woodsetts Village, in Worksop,
Rotherham. A sudden jolt off the A57 transports you from the bustling
market town of Worksop, with pubs on every corner, to the tree
lined and peaceful avenues of this rural village. It’s
the kind of place that looks like a postcard, where everybody knows
everybody else and the height of social gatherings takes place
at the annual Midsummer Festival.
The school is small and immaculate. The reception area walls are
full of vivid, childish drawings and head teacher, Heather Green’s
warm and motherly nature is a stark contrast to the daunting image
many of us have of our first school teachers.
Heather recently came runner-up for the NCSL award for Head Teacher
of the Year in a Primary School, achieving a distinction, and it’s
not hard to see why.
“It was always a good school but I think we have enhanced things. I care
about the people”, said Heather.
A head teacher at the school for the past 14 years, Heather knows
every child by name, most of their parents and even some of their
grandparents. When she talks about the pupils, the staff and the
school she beams with pride and her modesty is notable.
Now in her fifties, Heather always knew she wanted to teach and
says she “fell in love” with Woodsetts Primary when
she visited all those years ago.
She believes that the success of a school relies on the relationships
within it and can’t speak highly enough of her staff, “We
have a brilliant school team. Everyone is so willing to help out
and I really appreciate the little, out-of-the-blue gestures that
happen so often at Woodsetts.”
Mrs Green’s unreserved, warm-hearted approach with everyone
she meets hasn’t gone unnoticed by Woodsetts’ close-knit
community and this is reflected in the tremendous parental and
local business support the school has received. The ‘buddy
bench’, where upset or lonely children can go to meet friends,
was donated to them by a member of the community and someone even
offered to lend their mini-digger to the school to help with the
garden.
Speaking about being nominated for the award, which was announced
on 4th July in Harrogate, Heather said, “It’s a really
weird feeling and a great honour. I have received so many beautiful
letters congratulating me and people who didn’t need to take
an interest, did.”
It was Catherine Brentnall, a school liaison officer for the groundbreaking
enterprise initiative programme, Rotherham Ready who nominated
Heather for the award.
Rotherham Ready is a borough wide initiative which is making strides
in fostering enterprise activities and entrepreneurial mindsets
in children and young people aged four to 19 and Catherine’s
role is to support the members of staff within schools who have
gone through specific training to be able to deliver the activities
to a high standard.
Catherine, who visits schools every day, said, “It feels
like a family and there are some really astute things going on
there. You walk into any classroom and you can feel the energy
and creativity. They are bringing learning alive at Woodsetts.”
“What struck me most was just how much at the centre of school life the
children are. Fantastic creative teaching is going on there and it seemed crazy
that no one had nominated Heather for this type of award before.”
Catherine was most impressed by the importance Heather obviously
places on encouraging entrepreneurial activities from an early
age which is reflected in the allotment and garden that the school
are currently nurturing as a team.
The local parish was the inspiration for the garden and Heather
said, “The new Father came to the parish and the older members
of the church started a gardening club. It was almost three years
ago when they bought us a greenhouse and some seeds. Things just
developed from there.”
The allotment lies at the bottom of the school’s playing
field and grows fruit trees, carrots, courgettes, potatoes, cherries
and gooseberries. Each class tends to an area of the allotment
and if the harvest is successful, Heather plans to hold festivals
to start selling the produce.
“We have developed the garden into a massive area and it has brought the
whole community together. Parents and grandparents have come to help, digging
and weeding. It has been such a lovely atmosphere.”
Heather adheres to the same principles as Rotherham Ready, in that
children should be aware of their learning and understand that
knowledge they acquire at school will affect their adult lives.
She said, “I do believe enterprise is positive for schools
because it’s about skills and confidence. Our school council
often come up with better ideas than us and it is important to
give children ownership of things.”
Adding to its many accolades, Woodsetts Primary has recently been
recommended for the Warwick Excellence in Education Award, which
is designed for schools who are developing an ‘enterprise
agenda’ within their schools. Craig Grewcock, Regional Director
at the Centre for Education and Industry (CEI), which organises
the awards, said, “Community enterprise is a special focal
point for Woodsetts. Heather Green feels that enterprise is now
a real part of the curriculum and believes that success means you ‘lose
control’, passing the responsibility on to the children.”
Outside, on the school playing field, the children gather around
their head teacher in droves, asking questions and competing for
her attention. Heather believes the secret to a successful and
happy school is making yourself visible.
“Although I am very busy I try to go around the classrooms and walk around
the dinner hall. I always go out at the end of the day and I think it’s
about how you present yourself to both the children and the parents.”
Catherine Brentnall, who also attended the Teaching Awards at the
Majestic Hotel in Harrogate, described Heather as, “an open-minded
and visionary leader” and said, “Mrs Green is very
generous about sharing her experiences and the school’s garden
has managed to link with so much in the curriculum.”
“I left Woodsetts thinking, ‘Wow, I wish I had gone there."
Heather left Harrogate with an engraved glass award and as much
modesty as when she arrived. The head teacher’s enthusiastic
and approachable attitude doesn’t seem much to her, but the
lasting effect on the community and every past and present pupil
at Woodsetts Primary School speaks for itself.
Clearly moved by the nomination for Head Teacher of the Year in
a Primary School, Mrs Green said, “I am always extremely
proud of everything that Woodsetts stands for. It’s just
wonderful that someone else has recognised that and been moved
by it in the same way we all are.”
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