Pitsford School
Finding the individual within every individual
Craig Walker Head
Pitsford School
I became Head of Pitsford School in September 2018, coming to Northamptonshire from a big HMC independent school in Leicestershire, where I had held various senior positions over 18 years. Pitsford School was, and is, very diff erent from that school, and from most other schools, and it is its uniqueness which made it, and makes it, compelling. T is rareness does not detract from the fact that the
school covers all the ground that any leading school would: Pitsford has outstanding academic teaching, delivered by subject specialists (many with higher degrees) who are passionate about their subjects, and who support students to reach and exceed their ambitious academic targets. Exemplary pastoral care is predicated on the principle
that it is best to proactively support students, and have open and robust discussions about wellbeing, rather than to wait for problems to present (indeed in providing things like wellbeing spaces, and communal areas for all students, Pitsford has been ahead of the curve in terms of trends in education). In addition, a lavish extra-curricular programme delivers breadth of opportunity, depth of experience and intensity of experience to every student.
T e distinctiveness of Pitsford School is that integral to
the vision of the school, from the Governors through to every adult on site and every student who comes through our gates, is that we fi nd the individual in every individual, and empower the students to be the best version of themselves. Whilst many schools, for obvious and understandable
reasons, create ‘gingerbread’ men and women, smoothing off edges and delivering a ‘product’ that is recognisably from that school, at Pitsford we are dedicated to serving the students to fi nd their better and best selves, to become what they most want to be, and to follow their passions and dreams. In my previous school, every student, at the end of
their journey, looked like the Head Boy; at Pitsford, I have 300 diff erent graduates, all diff erent and yet still recog- nisably Pitsfordian. My students leave Pitsford gifted and equipped with the confi dence and skills that they need to make them world-ready citizens of the 21st (and for some 22nd!) Century and imbued with a drive to fully engage with every opportunity with which they are presented. What this looks like in practice is a dynamic, immersive
curriculum which is built around the extraordinary inheritance from which the school draws. Although a relatively young school (founded in 1989), Pitsford is fortunate to be situated in 32 acres of gorgeous parkland, with a combination of old and new facilities, all maintained to an exemplary level, and a pedagogy that is committed
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