GOS STORY|Ten Year in GOS

Author: Ms Anne Stock (Vice Principal Academics)

One of the questions I am often asked is why did I come to China.  My answer to that is usually, "I didn't!"  which, naturally, confuses our students. When I tell my family that I am leaving a school, their first question is which country are you going to next?' (they know it will not be UK) - to which my answer is "I don't know!". For me, the choice has never been to go to a specific country - rather I look for a certain school. I look for a school that puts children first; that has a good family feel; where the school cares about everyone who is there from the cleaners to the teachers; where everyone has value and has a voice in the way the school is run. I didn't choose to come to China, I choose to come to Green Oasis School and Friday 19th March, 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of my joining the school. 

At that time, this was an all through school of about 450 students in total.  Some year groups in Primary had only one class though most had two. During the summer of that year, we undertook a building programme that added 9 classrooms - 4 of which were on top of the second floor Library which has since been converted to two Year 1 classrooms. Adding the extra classrooms meant that we were able to expand to two classes in each year group and begin the expansion to three class entry.  At the same time we focused on the staff - ensuring that we had people who were well qualified and cared as much about our students as the subjects they taught.  In the time, since I have been here, the turnover of staff has been low because we have a school where staff are happy. The family atmosphere and ethos that we espouse means that teachers come and, quite simply, do not want to leave. The children we teach are delightful - they are polite, well mannered and love learning - I boast about them to everyone I speak to about the school as new teachers will tell you. The students I have personally taught have been ready for a challenge and actively enjoy challenging others, including me!

What makes a school different to others are the little things - the celebrations and traditions.  We have worked hard to introduce new traditions which continually change as we reshape and improve them.  Also important are the stories that are handed down and after 10 years, I have a lot of stories.  Often, they are of the children and the journey they have been on.  Ms Swan is (still) astonished that I know the names of all our students (this year has been a little more challenging with so many new ones) but it is because they make themselves known - either through their actions or because they demand to be noticed.  If I am in the playground, they come and say hello, if they see me in the corridor they wave and say hello - some days all I do all day is wave and say hello back.  That our children feel able to speak to everyone from the cleaners to the Principal is something I am very proud of as it means they have no fear.  I frequently tell them that the next leaders of the world are in our school - they simply have to decide if they are going to lead the world in coding or fashion or sport or...

So may I take this opportunity to thank you all for coming along on the journey with us.  The last 10 years have been a roller coaster but we have held on and had fun along the way.  Thank you for trusting us with your children and their learning journey and for spreading the word about the good work being done by our incredible team.  Our growth in the last 10 years has been incredible and  I cannot wait to see what the next 10 holds for us.