Open is an interesting word and one that applies to Marden at a number of levels. This is because we’re an open school in more ways than you might think

First of all, we’re open for business.

The start of term reopening was particularly enjoyable this year because we could bask in the glory of our best ever exam results and enjoy all of the improvements to the campus which happened in the holiday.

(And that reminds me. At our parent consultation meetings about our new school day timings, I issued an invitation to parents to join me for lunch so that they could experience our new catering facilities at first hand. No one has contacted me yet, but the offer still stands!)

Secondly, it’s secondary school open evening season and it’s ours on Thursday September 27th. We’ve invited all year 6 parents in the area (and year 5 if they’d like to come) so that they can learn about the great things we have to offer as well as our exciting plans for the future. Judging by last year, it will be packed out and expertly orchestrated by Annie Davidson and Maria Veti. I was very new to Marden in 2011, yet I remember feeling very proud to hear the glowing feedback we received from prospective parents.

But of course, if you’re a parent, the best test of a school is to see it in action during the day, so on Thursday evening I’ll stress to visitors that they are welcome to arrange a visit to Marden to see what we’re really like. As a headteacher, you can’t be much more open than that, although I don’t suppose that I would make the offer unless I was very confident about what people would see when they accompany me on a tour of our classrooms.

And finally, there’s an open heartedness about Marden which I think is quite unique.

We represent values of openness and honesty and do our best to pass these on to our young people. We also strive to embody these qualities in all of our dealings with others whether they be parents and carers or other schools.

This is because we want to be looked up to as a place of integrity and truth – a school which is well and truly open in all respects.