SCHOOL NEWS: Swanmead headteacher wants to build character among his students

THE headteacher of Swanmead Community School in Ilminster was full of pride once again as he hosted the school’s annual Celebration of Achievement Evening.

Mark Walker told a packed audience of students, staff, governors and special guests on Wednesday (July 19, 2017) that it was the “showpiece and most important event” on the school calendar.

“Our young people at Swanmead work so hard,” he said. “They are hugely committed to their work and being the best they can be.

“We could very much invite all 280 of our pupils here to this event – all of our children have much to feel proud about and have moments through the year to look back upon with such pride and satisfaction.

“But we could only invite 65 young people who have just done something really special this year. They’ve gone above and beyond what was expected; made that extra bit of effort; show that extra bit of class, displayed a real dedication to their learning.”

Mr Walker said that the “pressure gauge” had really been turned up on today’s young people in terms of how to act, what to look like, what type of people to like, who to admire, what hobbies and interests they should and should not have.

“There’s even pressure on how many social media friends they have,” he said.

“The well-voiced opinion that your childhood schooldays were the ‘best of your life’ may well have been true when we were younger – but I can’t help but feel in today’s world, that may not always be true.”

Mr Walker said the way to combat the increasing “pressure cooker” of a world for young people to grow up in was, in his opinion, to develop character.

“In my first assembly of the school year back in September I set the children a couple of targets for the school year,” he said.

“The first one was to ‘stand out from the crowd’ and I honestly believe that we’ve achieved that. In a school this size, it is possible for every young person to have their moment, to be at the top and stick their chest out the furthest.

“The second one was to ‘get out of their comfort zone’ and I believe this is crucial towards developing character.

“As a school Swanmead is sometimes accused of protecting the children too much, as caring too much. However, maybe it is about time to strike a better balance to ensure that we do keep that protection and care – to insist on maintaining positive relationship with our young people but at the same time just allow a bit more time for ‘out of comfort zone’ learning because this is the moment that the magic happens and we allow that character to be built.”

Mr Walker and the chairman of governors, Marion Gamper, thanked the parents for their continued support and congratulated the students on their achievements.

The guest presenter for the evening was Somerset Country Cricket Club batsman Adam Hose while also present to hand out awards were the Deputy Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Julie Fowler, Ilminster Rotary Club president Veronica Horman, the Rotary Club’s community services chairman Ken Dewsbury and Ilminster Lions Club president Andrew Lawson.

There were musical interludes during the evening with Sophie Gibbins and Alice Gibbins singing Over the Rainbow; Finn Moran and Joseph Baker playing The Entertainer; and the singing of Bugsy Malone by Sophie Gibbins, Isabelle Applegate, Emily Truong, Belle Miller, Lily Elswood, Nikola Saladiak, Gracie Plant and Alice Gibbins with Charlie LeFeuvre playing the ukulele and Callum Bird on drums.

PHOTOS: Mark Walker (top), headteacher of Swanmead School, along with some of the photos taken during the Celebration of Achievement Evening on Wednesday (July 19, 2017). More photos on the links below. 

More news and photos from the Celebration of Achievement Evening can be found on these links:

ALL THE PRIZE WINNERS:  http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-all-prize-winning-swanmead-students-named-here/ .

PHOTO GALLERY 1 – SWANMEAD SCHOOL CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT EVENING: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/swanmead-school-s-awards-evening-part-1-july-19-2017/ .

PHOTO GALLERY 2 – SWANMEAD SCHOOL CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT EVENING: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/swanmead-school-s-awards-evening-part-2-july-19-2017/ .

Main prize winners:

Congratulations to Swanmead School’s Abigail Locke: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-abigail-locke-has-been-a-superb-asset-t-swanmead/

Congratulations to Swanmead School’s Kyle Jenkins: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-finer-things-in-life-for-swanmead-s-kyle-jenkins/

Congratulations to Swanmead School’s Josh Berrington: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-infectious-personality-wins-the-day-for-student-josh-berrington-at-swanmead/

Congratulations to Swanmead School’s Charlie Poole: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-bugsy-malone-aka-charlie-poole-wins-endeavour-award-at-swanmead/

Congratulations to Swanmead School’s Josh Key: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-swanmead-s-sporting-star-of-the-future-wins-award/

Double congratulations to Swanmead School’s Sophie Gibbins: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-sophie-gibbins-wins-two-top-awards-at-swanmead-s-special-night/

Congratulations to Swanmead School’s Charlotte O’Neill: http://www.ilminsterpress.co.uk/blog/2017/07/20/school-news-charlotte-o-neill-wins-performing-arts-cup-at-swanmead/

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