'I want every child to achieve and be happy'
The new head teacher at Castlefields Infants' School, Rastrick, Gemma Elliott, is eager to build good relationships with the parents as well as the pupils. And she wants the same for the children in her care as for her own son.
THE highlight of the school year for pupils at Castlefields Infants does not happen in the classroom – it happens in the beautiful surroundings of the Yorkshire countryside.
Unusually for an infants' school, Castlefields' children are taken on an annual residential trip which introduces them to the glories of the Yorkshire Dales and encourages a sense of independence.
Mrs Gemma Elliott is the new head teacher at the Rastrick infants' school and she is convinced of the value of the annual reception year trip to Malham and the Year Two trip to Haworth. Pupils are accompanied by parents, grandparents and members of staff with youth hostels providing overnight accommodation and children getting the chance to enjoy the great outdoors.
"The trips are a great way of building relationships between home and school and of building the children's confidence before they go on to junior school. The children get so much out of it the trip – they talk about it for weeks," said Mrs Elliott.
Taking over the headship at Castlefields was something of a baptism of fire for Mrs Elliott – but also a welcome opportunity she is determined to seize with both hands. She started at Castlefields as deputy to head Susan Wood in April 2008. But when Mrs Wood announced that she would retire at Christmas 2008, Mrs Elliott became acting head.
"I had only been deputy for eight months so it was a steep learning curve. I knew I wanted to try for the headship so I started training for the National Professional Qualification for Headship. I had to do a work placement in another school and do a lot of personal learning – it was quite rigorous but very worthwhile."
Mrs Elliott, aged 36, lives in Scholes with her husband Keith and nine-year-old son Harvey. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and spending time with her family.
Growing up on Teeside she always knew she wanted to work with children but it wasn't until she was 17 and making her A-level choices that she decided on a career in teaching. She studied education at Bradford University and then worked in schools in the Bradford area.
"At one time when I was young I had a fantasy of being a fashion designer but I've never regretted working in education. My career path has evolved and I've taken opportunities as they've arisen. My family have helped and encouraged me every step of the way," she said.
Mrs Elliott is looking forward to continuing the close relationship between Castlefields and other junior schools in the area. "I love the fact that Castlefields is an infants' school. I think it has a special atmosphere and that helps the children to do well."
Castlefields Infants has 177 pupils and 40 members of staff including seven teaching staff. "I make sure I'm standing outside at the end of the day to say hello to parents. I've had 12 months of being in the driving seat and I've had the chance to build some lovely relationships with children and families.
"If I have one aim during my time at Castlefields it is that every child should achieve his or her potential and be happy at school. As a parent, I want the same things for the children at school as I do for my own child."
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Weather for Halifax
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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