It was very good to see parents of boys in Years 3, 4 and 5 on site this week at the Prep for our parent/teacher meetings with a strong academic focus. When I am not ringing the bell to keep things running more or less to time (it’s not all I do on each night but it feels, possibly disproportionately, like an important job!) I am always glad of the chance to ask parents the same simple question after they have met with their son’s teachers: “Did that all make sense?” I am relieved to hear, mostly, that it does.
I find that this question can often open the door to further conversations very much of the thoughtful kind, where we explore together the detail of a boy’s efforts and accomplishments, or we think forward to the progress we are hoping to see next term and indeed beyond. I am always up for this sort of chat about individual boys here. There are good reasons for this and the parent/teacher meetings this week gave me three very strong reminders of why such dialogue matters.
First, it allows us to share the story of each boy’s learning in a way that is rounded and honest. The formal reporting we do throughout the year is important, of course, but nothing beats a real conversation where we can clarify, reassure, explain, and sometimes challenge, all in service of helping each Hampton Prep boy do his best.
Second, these moments give parents a clearer sense of how to support their son’s academic journey at home. This is good old-fashioned common sense I realise, but when school and home work in partnership, we see the boys flourishing.
Finally, it helps us stay aligned with what parents rightly hope for from their son’s time with us: that he will be known, valued, encouraged and stretched.
Thank you to everyone who came in this week. These exchanges are never just about targets or levels or reports. They are about shared aspirations, and they remind us all why the work we are doing together really matters.
