News & Events

Leadership Likes: Mrs Raja

Mrs Sarah Raja, Head of Junior School

They say that you never forget a good teacher – for me, that is undoubtedly true. 

Mrs Batho was kind, funny and ‘cool’, and as Year 6 girls, we all adored her. I can still clearly remember her beautiful handwriting (always written with a Berol calligraphy pen) and the fact that she kept Marks and Spencer hand cream on her desk, but it was her teaching that really stayed with me. Her interest in Art and artists sparked something in me that remains to this day, and it would be no exaggeration to say that she was a big part of my inspiration to go into the profession.

It would appear that I am in good company in remembering these small details about an ex-teacher. This week, the internet has been awash with footage of Adele being reunited with her Year 7 English teacher, who she credits with having changed her life by inspiring her passion for literature and writing. The emotional scene of their reunion took me right back to my memories of Mrs Batho, but as a teacher, I also saw something else – the incredible pride of a teacher who had been just as inspired and affected by a pupil as the pupil had been by her. Being surrounded by inspirational pupils is ne of the absolute privileges of a teacher’s job, and not a day goes by that I am not struck by the incredible qualities of the pupils in our school. I see it in the confidence and warmth of our Year 6 girls, as they show visitors around the school, the mature insight of Year 1 and 2 when considering their heroes in assembly this week, and the frankly astounding level of understanding I observed amongst Year 4 in their Ent Tech lesson on binary code and parity yesterday. Each pupil brings their own unique contribution to our school community which is often remembered long after they have left the school. As teachers, we have the unique opportunity to ‘collect’ these contributions as memories, and I know that everyone in the profession will be able to recount specific pupils who have inspired them. Whether it’s a Year 7 pupil who was ‘confident, organised and well prepared’ when interviewed in front of the whole school, Sixth Formers who willingly offer their time to run clubs for younger year groups or pupils who throw themselves wholeheartedly into everything that they do, the lasting impression that they leave on those around them should not be underestimated.

And it doesn’t end when pupils leave the school. We recently appealed to the ex-Head Girls from the last ten years for support to set up an Alumnae Board, input thoughts and views on school strategies, and help us develop new initiatives. Within 24 hours, we had received nine positive responses, and their contributions are already being felt.

So, what is the key message here? As teachers, we have a unique opportunity to influence the lives of young people by our teaching, by our support and even just by being ourselves. But just as significantly, the message for pupils – never underestimate the strength of your influence on the adults around you. Whether you are reunited with your favourite teacher in front of a TV crew, and a million-strong audience remains to be seen, but you can be sure that the impact you have had will be no less powerful.

Mrs Sarah Raja

Head of Junior School