Insider Look: Layton open evening on 13th October 2024

Welcome to the head teacher's blog. I hope you find time to stop and read about some of the wonderful work we undertake here in school.

In this post, I wanted to provide a Head teacher's look at the recent open evening we held with prospective new parents and the thought which goes into an event like this. It's an opportunity to showcase Layton's achievements and discuss our school vision; this supports parents to make an informed choice. I usually use a prop or tell a story on occasions such as these to illustrate and paint a picture of our school, and the vlaues we hold. This time, the them was the nature of curiosity, and how we can use this to support learning when children start school.

When childen do begin their school journey, they are full of curiosity about the world around them. They are natural learners and are often eager to know more and gain new skills.

Curiosity is a super power; it powers learning, and our aim here at Layton is to ensure children develop, use and remain curious throughout their time with us,. After all, none other than Albert Einstein would agree; when asked about his intelligence, her replied:-

"I have no special talent. I am merely passionately curious"

It was with this in mind that I chose the milk bottle, some water and a ping pong ball - all to illustrate the point about how curiosity can power learning.

If yu take a milk bottle, fill it to the brim with water and turn the bottle upside down, the ping pong ball remains in place. Having demopnstrated this to parents, many of them were curious as to why this happened. Some expected the ping pong ball to fall off, some were not sure what would happen. A few parents thought the ball was stay on, but were unsure why.

I also asked this question of some teachers in school "why does the ping pong ball not detatch from the bottle and the water come pouring out?" There were many replies, some based on scientific knowledg; a lot said a vacuum had been created; one reply wondered if the water was magenetic!

Everyone asked, whether parent/carer, pupil or teacher, was curious about why, because science tells us gravity ensures all objects fall.

There is a rather long, scientific explanation as to why the ping pong ball does not fall from the bottle; However the point of the demosntration was to support parents and carers to understant how pwerful curiosity can be.

As educatots, it is vital we use this quality to support chldren to learn. Sometimes in school, we must love the questions mroe than the answers.

To all who were able to attend on a cold and wintery Autumn evening, thank you for listning and taking the time to speak with our teachers and out wonderful pupil leadership team. Declan and Daisy, our Head boy and Deputy Head girl, wre very proud to give their first speeches of the year. I do hope you find reason to choose Layton as the school to educate your child. It is our privelege to do so.