Page 4 - Androvian2021

2 | REFLECTIONS
FLOREAT ST ANDREW’S
Six years ago I wrote in this magazine that it was very exciting to know my family and I had joined such a friendly and inclusive school.As I now put finger to keyboard for one final time, that judgement has been reinforced a hundred times over and it will be an abiding memory as I move on to new challenges and adventures.
St Andrew’s Prep has a heart and a soul. Pupils are cared for and recognised as individuals.The opening of The Snug earlier this year was a clear acknowledgement that welfare is integral to personal development. And what a place it is: calming, nurturing and reassuring; the perfect environment for children to express their feelings with confidence. But our forward-thinking wellbeing initiatives run much deeper than a physical space. It is no good encouraging people to speak up if there is no-one to listen and so the development of the listening service with many staff trained as ‘listeners’ represents the backbone of compassion and empathy that cements the school community. For me, this is stand-out.
Academics are crucial to any school and I am proud of the ambitious development that has shaped the last few years.Academic strength is not about how many scholarships are won (though we have had those successes) but about the progress each child can make and the confidence that can be gained through learning. For me this comes down to instilling the correct attitude to learning and having a positive mindset and I am pleased that this is at the core of Androvian values. Pulling away