Good Advice

Sometimes it can be those unplanned meetings that turn out to be incredibly useful; particularly when it is with a whole class of 1st Form Oakhamians who are brimming with great advice for the new students joining us in September.

To cut a long story short, after the 1st Form exams, Class 1B had a lesson where the teacher was absent. I was in the Jerwoods Reception area when this call came through and cover was being sought. I overhead this and realised that I had been meaning to find time to ask a 1st Form class the question: "What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time, to before you had started at Oakham?" - and so, seizing this opportunity, the class were ushered into J7 - me with a board pen at the ready in order to capture their wisdom.

Now, Oakhamians are not generally known for their hesitancy, and 1B did not disappoint: an explosion of thinking was the metaphor that came to mind. These were just a few of the many things that they said:

"Always listen in class - it really does all matter." Aha! I thought, a class just having sat some exams with some "mysterious" looking questions...

"Take a risk - you'll regret things more if you don't do them." Excellent advice, and we explored what this actually meant: from trying a new sport to putting your hand up to answer in class.

"Be proactive in e-mailing teachers.... especially music teachers."  I am interpreting this to mean that they have to keep on top of their music commitments due to lessons changing around, rather than that the music teachers are particularly terrifying. But proactivity is indeed one of those key learning characteristics that all successful students have. Learning does not happen to you - it is something that you have to make happen.

.....and many, many more reflections. The advice was so good that not only did I share some of it with new Lower 1 and 1st Form Day Parents on that same day, but I am going to be getting some video clips of these highly reflective and articulate students, to perhaps show to the new Oakhamians in September. It is often better hearing advice from someone who has recently been through what you are about to experience.

The activity also showed how our LHO (Learning Habits at Oakham) initiative is giving students the language and the guidance to grow as reflective learners. With a carefully thought through programme of how we approach LHO from September, I cannot wait to see how the sort of advice that we see above is put into action, and what advice the new cohort will give their past selves by the end of next year.