Sarah Bergson

 

I've been at Redlands Primary School for 15 years - Headteacher since 2000, Deputy Head before that and Y6 class teacher before that...I clearly enjoy the school!  My passion is inclusion and our school has worked closely with Reading International Solidarity Centre for many years, most recently as a Centre of Excellence for the Global Learning Programme - an initiative sponsored by the Department for International Development. 

 

The global dimension in education is at the heart of our practice and, with over 40 languages spoken at the school, we are well-placed to promote this.   We are currently embedding Carol Dweck's and Shirley Clarke's principles of growth mindset at Redlands and noticing significant shifts in the way children perceive themselves as learners.   This approach encourages us all to try new things, to relish challenges and to build resilience; we aim to foster a climate of exploration and enquiry where children recognise that they are capable of creating waves and making a difference to their world. 
 

What the Annual Conference means to me as a School Leader

The RPHA conference provides an oasis in our all-too hectic lives - a place and time where I can connect with colleagues, learn from experts, be inspired by people who have achieved amazing things and reflect on my leadership.  It offers a supportive and collegiate community, and I know that any issues I am facing in my professional life will be the same for many others around me.  It also allows me to relax, unwind and enjoy myself in a fabulous setting by the sea and I always come back re-invigorated and restored.  Just lovely!

 

What this year’s theme means to me

We cannot drive school improvement without making changes.  Change is not always easy but it is essential if we are to provide an ever-better education for the children in our care.  Change is also about innovation and risk-taking - challenging ourselves to step outside our comfort zones and move into unknown territory.  It is in this place that waves are created - waves that shift mindsets and encourage discoveries.  It is the creation of these waves that keeps our schools alive, fresh and exciting.  Let's not lose sight of the power of the tide - the ebb and flow of creative thinking and ideas - and be the force behind the creation of new waves that could leave a lasting impression on the life of a child.