Committing to the education and wellbeing of young people at Galilee School

Earlier this week I was delighted to present to nine staff of Galilee School their personal framed copy of 'A commitment to the education & wellbeing of young people at Galilee School.'

The tradition at the school is for staff that have completed their six month probation with the school to be presented with this framed statement.

It is significant.

The Statement of Commitment is a document that was developed over an 18 month period through a rigorous and robust series of conversations among all staff of the school about what our shared beliefs are about our roles at the school in teaching, learning, student support, and the development of each young person at the school.

This statement of shared values and beliefs about learning, teaching, and student support, is a vital contribution to the ongoing culture at the school and the ways in which we engage with each young person, how we work together, and the attitudes that we bring to the learning journey of each young person.

The significance of presenting it to each staff member after their six month probation also represents a deliberate 'signing on' to the values, ethos and approach that Galilee School is applying. During their probation, staff are making an assessment of the school: our pedagogy, and our culture, and answering the question - 'can I commit to this?' In accepting the presented framed certificate, they are saying - 'yes I can; and I do.'

The final statement in the Commitment reads like this: ' In committing to this statement I accept the responsibilities of being a staff member at Galilee School, and acknowledge the deep trust placed in me by young people, parents, caregivers, society and my colleagues.'