Welcome to the new year….

It is September and the world continues to do its level best to scare all of us half to death whether it is due to war, rising costs, hardship, fuel shortages, hospital waiting times or any number of other terrible things afflicting people around the globe.

However, it is also (I am sure everyone has noticed) the start of term in the northern hemisphere for most schools and thus the start of a new school year. Even amongst the terrible things afflicting our world, it is always a time for renewal and wonderful new beginnings; small children taking their first tentative steps away from their parents, senior students focusing on being ready before their big exams, other students looking forward to seeing their old friends and making new ones, whilst others begin the year by promising family and staff that they will surely improve upon/maintain their progress from the last!

And the teachers? Well, hopefully recharged after a well-deserved break, they are responsible for all of the above and year after year that is what they will invariably do. Caring, supporting and challenging their students to rise ever further is what we do as teachers (if we are doing it right). Given the troubles in the world it is perhaps salient to reflect upon the fact that the children in front of us in the classroom are our future and if humanity is to do better than we have done before then our children must be ready to make a difference when it is their turn to do so.

Our schools are so important to our collective future. It is easy to forget this simple truth amidst the hurly burly of new classrooms, students, timetables and yes, even horrible current events but together, teachers all over this world will continue to help our children make a difference in the future when their time comes to do so.

Thank you for all your hard work and have a great year making a difference to young lives….