Dear Parents, Guardians and Friends
Last week’s blog celebrated our success at the Wokingham Youth Parliament, where several of our students made us proud by standing for election to the UK Youth Parliament. Their confidence, commitment and courage to speak up for their generation truly embodied the spirit of enterprise that we so strongly encourage here at The Holt.
It was particularly inspiring to hear from Jasmine, our newly appointed Youth MP, who shared a powerful message:
“Change starts when young voices are heard and taken seriously. I aim to ensure young people are treated fairly, represented meaningfully and given the tools they need to succeed.”
Next generation students stand for election to UK Youth Parliament | Wokingham
This quote perfectly captures what enterprise means at The Holt — not only about setting up a business or innovating in economics, but also about taking initiative, developing leadership, and having the confidence to make a difference.
Across the school, there are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved, take initiative and be enterprising — from student-led clubs to House prefects, from the school show to the magistrates’ competition. These activities help to build essential skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and public speaking — qualities that are vital in today’s dynamic and ever-changing workplace.
But behind these wonderful opportunities, there is always a dedicated member of staff (and often several!) who make it all happen. Whether it’s completing paperwork for trips and visits, training students for events, supporting them in delivering assemblies, or accompanying them on trips — our teachers and support staff give countless hours to help our students grow, succeed, and shine.
We are fortunate at The Holt to have such a team of staff willing to go above and beyond to offer these experiences for our students. A great example was our recent History trip, Mrs Hagger wrote –
‘I took 15 Year 9 historians to the Museum for Rural Life at the University of Reading. We were first given a tour of the galleries and museum spaces on arrival, discussing the different roles involved in the heritage industry, from curators and researchers to visual effects and social media managers. Students then had the opportunity to do some artefact handling – ranging from some shorts worn by a member of the Women’s Land Army to a drenching horn used to administer medicine to cows! Students were then given the challenge to create an exhibition centred around a particular artefact, and pitch how they would display it, who their target audience would be and what interactive features they would include. The museum staff were really impressed by the girls’ creativity and consideration of what would make a space accessible and interesting for different groups.
As well as celebrating our enterprising students, I want to take a moment to highlight another group in our community who are also developing initiative and resilience — our trainee teachers. Our current cohort have been with us since September and are now reaching the end of their first school placement. Many are preparing to teach a fuller timetable while also getting ready to move on to a different school in a contrasting setting.
I recently asked them what they had found most rewarding — and most challenging — about their first few months in the classroom, and their responses were thoughtful, heartfelt, and reflective.
‘ Making connections with both staff and students has been rewarding and makes me excited for the day. Being able to have insightful conversations about English with them’’ Miss Mann
‘ Allowing me to build confidence in myself and now I feel more confident in day to day life and when trying out new things’ Miss Gregory
‘Being able to build positive relationships with the students has felt incredibly rewarding and has made this experience really worthwhile. ‘Mr Doyle
‘The Holt feels like a family you can tell that the staff and students value their surroundings and education’ Miss Pugh
It doesn’t feel like I am going to ‘work’ and every day I get rewards from teaching students who achieve little wins’ Miss Burgess
‘It is the best job I have ever had you can make a difference every day’ Mr Wright
Of course, they have also faced (and are learning to overcome) challenges; adjusting to a completely new environment, the workload and working after school (although also the recognition that it is all worth it to see children learn!) and developing their subject knowledge as well as the demands of the PGCE course.
Their enthusiasm and drive remind us why teaching is such a deeply rewarding profession. We look forward to welcoming our next group of Reading Partnership trainee teachers in February, while bidding farewell to our current trainees as they move on. This marks the first stage of a three-year training journey to become a fully qualified teacher.
If you are considering a career in teaching, please contact Julian Bushell at JBushell@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk or visit our school website for more information. There is currently a shortage of History and Geography trainees, so now is an excellent time to explore opportunities in these fields.
At The Holt, whether it’s our students finding their voices in youth politics, our staff supporting enterprise and enrichment, or our trainee teachers starting their professional journeys — we see every day that learning, initiative and passion go hand in hand.
Teaching truly is a rewarding profession!
Yvonne Smith
Assistant Headteacher