Dear Mrs Smith

July 18, 2009 10:02 am

Author:

Share this Article

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

This is the note that my Mum received from the family of one of her students. I said in my article about private and state education yesterday that I would let everyone see it.

Although she does work very hard, this letter – one of many she received – is not just about my Mum. It is about all the teachers in her school and every other school I’ve been in that makes them thoughtful and inspiring places in which to grow up.

The school is a “bog-standard” state primary school. Ofsted’s report this year said:

“It is much bigger than most primary schools. Most pupils live some distance from the school. A large majority of the pupils are from minority ethnic backgrounds and speak English as an additional language. The largest group of these pupils are Kosovan, and their first language is Albanian. Over 140 pupils are refugees or asylum seekers. The proportion of pupils who have learning difficulties is well above the national average. The school has an exceptionally high turnover of pupils. The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of a Nursery, which children attend on a full-time basis, and two Reception classes. The school has gained the Healthy School Award and Sports Activemark.”

The rating the school has had for as long as I can remember? Outstanding.

This is more proof for Heather McGregor that her children will be well educated and well cared for in the state sector.

Dear Mrs Smith,

We wanted to make known to you our deep gratitude for all you have done for Natalie this last year. It has been marvellous to watch her grow in confidence and maturity in a school she loved from day one. You are certainly well assisted, but you set the tone of the clasroom and I only wish you could see Natalie doing her impersonation of you, asking us what we would like to do and telling us not not to speak all together. You have been an inspiration to her, quite literally, and for that we can scarcely express sufficient thanks.

(I’ve changed the name of the little girl).

Comments are closed

Latest

  • News Equal marriage – How every Labour MP voted at every stage of the bill

    Equal marriage – How every Labour MP voted at every stage of the bill

    With much jubilation, the 3rd reading of the same-sex marriage bill passed the House of Commons last night, carried through on the weight of Labour votes, but how have individual MPs voted on this bill? In the 2nd reading of the equal marriage bill, Labour MP voting totals were: 217 – for 22 – against 14 – non-voters For the third reading 192 – for 14 – against 49 – non-voters —————————————————————- 192 Labour MPs who voted yes on 3rd reading (9 didn’t [...]

    Read more →
  • News Ed Miliband’s Google Speech – full text

    Ed Miliband’s Google Speech – full text

    Speaking at the Google Big Tent event Ed Miliband said (please note, Miliband spoke without notes, but this is the text released by the party): It is great to be here inside the Google Big Tent. My sons Daniel and Sam think I do a very boring job, so they will be excited when I tell them I appeared along with the “Killer Robots” and the “Captain of the Moonshots” at your sessions. I’d like to start by showing you [...]

    Read more →
  • Comment Unions The chutzpah of Peter Mandelson – and why we need more trade unionists

    The chutzpah of Peter Mandelson – and why we need more trade unionists

    Lord Mandelson, or Baron Mandelson of Foy, as he should be referred to since he was packed off to the House of Lords by a small cabal, recently accused the Unite union of ‘manipulating selection procedures’ in the Labour Party. He went on to warn Ed Miliband that this ‘stores up danger for a future Labour government’. Irony has always been in as short supply as sheer chutzpah has been plentiful with old Mandy – but since his faithful disciple [...]

    Read more →
  • News Cameron says no more EU-turns – Media roundup: May 22nd, 2013

    Cameron says no more EU-turns – Media roundup: May 22nd, 2013

    Subscribers to our morning email get the best of LabourList – including the Media and blog round up – every weekday morning. If you were a subscriber you would have already received this in your inbox. You can sign up here. Cameron says no more EU-turns “After one of his most difficult weeks since becoming prime minister, David Cameron put in a polished and assured peformance on the Today programme this morning. The most notable line came on Europe, with Cameron [...]

    Read more →
  • Featured Miliband is off to speak to Google – but it’s not all about tax avoidance

    Miliband is off to speak to Google – but it’s not all about tax avoidance

    Ed Miliband is speaking at the Google “Big Tent” event this morning, and as we noted earlier this week, he’s picking a bit of a fight with them over their tax affairs. Understandably, most of the press coverage in advance of Miliband’s speech (and presumably afterwards too) is about Google’s tax affairs. That’s in part due to David Cameron’s unwillingness to challenge his adviser, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt, when the two met earlier this week. The Downing Street media team [...]

    Read more →