As a newly appointed Parent Governor, I recently had my first opportunity to spend time at our school as part of the Governors’ Day and benefited from hearing the perspectives of some of my fellow governors, including our Chair. It was a fascinating introduction and gave me a real insight into the work that goes on behind the scenes to make the school such a positive place for students.

The day was designed to help governors better understand the school’s priorities and how progress is monitored. We heard about key focus areas for the coming year, including strengthening leadership across the school, continuing to develop inclusive and responsive teaching, making smarter use of data, widening opportunities for all students, and improving A Level outcomes.

One of the most interesting parts of the day was learning about the school’s regular “learning walks” – classroom visits that help leaders understand what is working well and where improvements can be made. We also had the opportunity to visit lessons ourselves, including A Level Biology, Philosophy, Physics, English and Chemistry. It was interesting to see lessons in action, with students focused on their work and teachers using a range of approaches to keep classes engaged.

In Chemistry, the teacher asked students why they should keep the room ventilated during the chlorine experiment. One student's deadpan answer — that otherwise they'd die — raised a smile, but also showed they clearly understood the point.

I spoke with students from different year groups and heard their views on school life. They shared what they like about the school, including the library and canteen, and also pointed out areas they felt could be improved, such as some of the facilities. It was useful to hear their perspective directly.

I also learned about the school’s commitment to supporting every student to succeed. It was encouraging to hear about the thoughtful support in place for students with additional needs, including personalised pupil passports that help teachers better understand individual learning needs, regular review meetings for EHCP students, and the recent appointment of a dedicated SEND mentor. We also heard about the school’s outreach work with local primary schools to widen access and challenge perceptions about selective education. It was clear to me that inclusion is not just something spoken about, but something actively built into school life.

It was really helpful to see the school up close and get a better understanding of how much work goes on behind the scenes. I left with a genuine appreciation for the thought, effort and care that staff put into every part of school life, and feeling confident that the leadership team is focused on doing the very best for all students.

I am very much looking forward to serving as Parent Governor and getting to know more of the parent community in the months ahead. I hope to be an approachable voice for parents within the governing body, and once my school email address is in place, I will be pleased to share my contact details so that parents can reach out with any questions, ideas or concerns they may wish to raise.