A Headteacher's Day

Being a secondary school headteacher can often be perceived as strenuous, tiring and a highly challenging career from the outset. Whether it be masses of paperwork and forms to sign, endless meetings or the overwhelming stress of running a high school, it all seems to cloud our vision of what this job is at its core. But, with Ms Gurney, headteacher of Sir John Leman High School in Beccles flourishing in her role, you are sure to realise the boundless advantages this occupation holds.

When beginning the normal school morning, Ms Gurney completes a great deal of operational tasks such as greeting her leadership team and assessing the plans for the day. Ensuring all is settled, her attention moves to replying to her emails and queries, of which there are many as imagined in her role as head. Additionally, people can sometimes ask challenging inquiries which requires a lot of patience to answer – In fact Ms Gurney herself said, ‘People will come in and say, ‘quick question...’, and you know that it might be very quick for them to say that question, but then what needs to happen as a consequence, is often not very quick.’ But despite the demands of responding sufficiently to everyone, Ms Gurney maintains a positive attitude and continues ploughing forward onto whatever the day holds next.  

From visiting external events to helping other staff members, Ms Gurney’s day varies constantly, which keeps her schedule well packed full of often exciting opportunities, most of which benefit the students here at Sir John Leman High School. Ms Gurney discussed how she believes it is important to her to make sure her pupils can access whatever guidance they require or be introduced to enough new opportunities, and therefore quoted, ‘I want students here to have the best possible education they can in every single lesson….It’s about making sure everybody is consistent….and that everybody is able to access what support there is and what opportunities there are regardless of their background or their learning needs.’ Furthermore, Ms Gurney likes to involve the wider local communities into school life which increases support for student opportunities. These include working with other schools within the school trust, meeting with local MP Peter Aldis, inviting the Rotary Club in Beccles for conferences and gathering with the Beccles Town Council. 

Ms Gurney reported she never planned to be a head teacher, or even enter a career in education when she was younger, and so as this is her first time in the role, she enjoys it very much and reaps the benefits of being able to make a difference and have a job that she felt was worthwhile. Overall, beneath the stressful surface of being a high school headteacher, this occupation is one that holds boundless advantages, and Ms Gurney is a prime example of one who appreciates every moment of it.