Outwood Family Catch Up Series...Heather Holmes

As part of our new feature, we are talking with members of the Outwood Family and finding out how life has changed for them since the school closures announcement.

This time we chat with Heather Holmes, Regional Director of English for the Outwood Family Southern Region.

Read on to see how Heather day to day life has been changed due to the social distancing measures taken by the Government.

[Outwood.com] Hi Heather, thanks for taking the time to chat with us. We appreciate you’re busy, so let’s get to it! Things have been turned upside down recently, for reasons we are all too aware of. So, for you what has been the most difficult aspect of the lockdown period for you and your work?

“I think that for anybody with young children at home, the most difficult aspect of the lockdown period has been attempting to manage my responsibilities to students, Heads of Department and other Directors, and at the same time attempt to keep a very active six-year-old entertained in a manner that doesn't always involve a screen!

“Another challenge has been the lack of contact with colleagues and students. Of course, with colleagues we speak over the phone and through Google Meets, but I very much miss the one-to-one conversations I would ordinarily have throughout the day.”

They both seem to be common themes when we talk to people for this, it is a very difficult time. So, while trying to balance the home and work responsibilities, what is a typical day for you now?

“It's so varied! There are some constants though. 

“At some point I will speak with a HoD and discuss perhaps a timetabling issue or any other concern we may have. I'll also catch up with one of the South region directors, and again we'll discuss ongoing issues in schools, which could be anything from recruitment to the need for some exam papers to use in a department moderation meeting. 

“I'll keep dipping in and out of my emails and attempting to respond to the needs raised in those. This week, that has ranged from suggestions for a new Y7 text, the need for some examples of Literature essays for The Merchant of Venice, thoughts about the structure of the new Literature CPD online course we're operating, and recruitment and timetabling issues, to name a few. 

“I'll have at least one Google Meet most days with Director colleagues, and/or a Google Meet with the HoDs of the schools I'm deployed to. 

“This week I joined Brumby's excellently run IAG meeting, and on Thursday I ran with a colleague the trust-wide online Literature CPD. I might also try to record a first-wave teaching video, or give a colleague feedback on their recording. 

“It's probably not an exaggeration to say that there are some days when I feel busier than I did before the lockdown!”

Again that is something we have heard quite a lot. Days are much busier now for a lot of people under the current restrictions. Is this the biggest surprise for you do you think, or is there something else?

“It's not really a surprise but what I have noticed and really loved about the Outwood Family reaction to lockdown is the way that individuals from all areas of the Trust have worked hard to ensure that our sense of family and community has remained unaffected by the lockdown. 

“I said earlier that I miss seeing my colleagues in the flesh, but as a Trust I think a huge amount of time and work has gone into ensuring colleagues and students do not feel distanced or alone during these really challenging times.”

That is great to hear. Let's be honest, at times like this we don’t want to feel alone so it’s brilliant that you have noticed the true Outwood Family nature that has been present during this lockdown.

So, apart from this, what have you found most satisfying in your work since lockdown began?

“It's been great to see students really attempting to engage with this new remote way of working, and their little messages of thanks and good wishes to their teachers, and vice versa, have been heartwarming. 

“Seeing colleagues work to master new technologies with enthusiasm has also been brilliant.

“I have so much admiration for the staff in schools who are working incredibly hard to make sure we reach all our students, whether digitally or with printed work, during the lockdown, sending packs out, talking to parents on the phone and really keeping a check on the health of our schools' communities.”

After all this then, how do you think your approach to work post-lockdown will be affected by this time?

“I will never again take for granted the chance to have a personalised learning conversation with a student, that's something I've really missed. 

“Moving forward through, there are some interesting technologies and ways of working that we haven't really considered before, but which we are turning to now. When the lockdown eventually ends, I suspect our new 'normal' in the classroom, with regards to teaching and learning, is going to look very different.”

Well that seems like a good place to end this lovely chat. Thank you for your time, Heather.