Fiona Kane

For fans of ‘You’ve Got Mail’ (Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan), perhaps like me, this quotation from Hanks’ character, Joe Fox always conjures up the return to school in September.

Ah, September! The month that brings a mix of excitement, fear, and the unmistakable scent of freshly sharpened pencils and other school supplies!  Whilst the return may seem frantic to students (and parents/carers), the return is actually a well-planned and orchestrated dance to prepare for the new academic year and the work in reality begins in January each year believe it or not! Let’s take a short behind the scenes look at some of what takes place each August/September.

The Welcome on the mat for the Principal, Staff and Pupils

Teaching staff are always back in school before the pupils to prepare for the smooth opening to the new school year. However, it is the support staff, sometimes the unsung heroes of this particular operation, who are in school over the summer months and already have the classrooms, offices and corridors gleaming after their ‘summer deep clean’ and photocopying and printing all sitting ready for teachers to collect on their first day back.  It is a pleasure to return from the summer holidays each year to be greeted by the welcome of the learning and working environment ready for action.

Dipping our toes in back to school

A Level and GCSE Results Days (Two Thursdays in August) allow staff in post primary schools to ‘dip their toes in’ ahead of the new school year.  It’s a special privilege to celebrate these days with our young people and their families and to be on hand to help with advice and guidance for anyone disappointed or not sure of their next steps.  These days following results help schools to start warming up the engine room of the school again ahead of the full force return.

Finding your way, knowing your schedule

This is where timetabling teams earn their stripes. Crafting a timetable and a school map of classrooms/subjects, that accommodates every course, class, teacher, and pupil is akin to solving a Rubik’s Cube. Inevitably, there are last-minute changes, and the occasional existential crisis. But somehow, each year, miraculously, thanks to the skill and hard work of timetablers, it all comes together in time for the first bell.

Tech Prep

In the digital age, the tech prep is also a crucial part of the overall school preparation process. IT technicians work tirelessly to ensure that every computer, tablet, and interactive whiteboard is in tip-top shape with updates and upgrades all in place. This often involves a series of complex (and no doubt some irritating) rituals, including reboots, detangling cables, fixing, sorting and updating.

The Students are back!

Finally, the students come back and in all honesty, it only really feels like the school again once they return.  Schools roll out the red carpet for new students and staff.  Welcome back presentations, introductions, inductions, orientation, training, staff meetings, meetings with parents, meetings in departments and more meetings!  But amidst all the busyness, there’s a sense of camaraderie and excitement for the year ahead.

The rhythm of the timetable and the classroom

Once the initial rush and high energy settle, and all meetings are concluded and the expectations set out to staff and pupils for the year ahead, the rhythm created by the timetable takes over and classroom practice, learning and teaching begin to flow and the routine of school is established. It’s a magical process schools complete every year and yet every year it feels fresh and exciting – I love it!

Conclusion

And there you have it – a quick behind-the-scenes look at the annual August/September scramble. It’s a time of high energy, like an aeroplane on take-off, where every member of the school community plays a vital role in ensuring a smooth start to the academic year. So, as you sharpen those pencils and pack those lunches and schoolbags, spare a thought for the teachers and support staff who make it all possible. Here’s to a fantastic school year, filled with learning, laughter, growth and fulfilment for all our young people and everyone working in our schools!