HAVING taken over at the helm of Wellingborough School, new Headmaster Andrew Holman is focused on building on what makes the school great and ensuring that the school remains the first choice locally.
Joining the school when the new term started in January, Andrew immediately felt at home, agreeing that the Family of Schools message of which Wellingborough School is so proud runs deeper than simply an engaging motto.
“No matter how excited you are about a new role, it’s always a wrench, moving to a new job, moving your family to a new area, but I can honestly say that we have all settled in here quickly,” said Andrew, who moved to Wellingborough from Hymers College in Hull, with his wife, Sara, and children Evie and Thomas.
“My first impressions of the school, even going back to my first look at the website, were nothing but positive, and the reality has lived up to that expectation.
“It’s a warm and friendly school where both the staff and the pupils are fully engaged in school life and want to do well.”
Although academic success is at the heart of Wellingborough School’s approach, there’s also a clear understanding that the whole person is important and that children benefit from being exposed to a wide range of activities such as drama, music and sport – helping to form the adult they will become rather than simply concentrating on exam success.
There has been investment in areas such as the new arts centre and sports facilities over recent years and that looks set to continue, as well as in the day-to-day upkeep of the school that increasingly includes the technology children need to get the most from school life.
“Technology moves on at such a pace you almost have to cost it in as a utility these days,” added Andrew. “We want to lead the way in this, looking at making sure the devices and equipment we use in school are at least as good, if not better, than the children have available to them at home so that the opportunities to use technology in school life become a natural part of the way they work. I’ve already started dialogue on how we do this because you quickly get left behind if you don’t stay abreast of technological advancements.
“But while I am full of ideas and have many things I’d like to do, I’m also grateful to have such a fantastic starting point. It’s a nice challenge to have, to make something this good even better.
“I am excited by the prospect of steering the school forward in the next chapter of its development and I am very much looking forward to working alongside students, staff, parents, governors and the local community to move the School to ever-greater heights.”
The School will be hosting an Open Day on Saturday, 3 March, from 9.30am to 12.30pm, for entry in September 2018 and beyond. For more details, visit www.wellingboroughschool.org