January 2012 saw the start of a new period of leadership at Trinity Prep with the arrival of Rachel Eaton-Jones. Trinity’s overall Head, Tim Waters says, “We have been delighted to welcome Rachel to our community. She is an inspirational leader whose impact on the Prep Department has been immediate and who looks set to take this successful school onward to even greater things.”
Rachel has worked in schools in England and overseas, her previous post was as Deputy and Acting Head at Wellington Junior School in Somerset. Ambitions for raising standards throughout her career have focussed on the gifted and talented in schools, establishing a broad curriculum rich in extra-curricular opportunities, driving independent learning through developing thinking skills and careful monitoring of progress.
She and her family moved to Teignmouth in time for the youngest children to start at Trinity, although enjoying the seaside was limited as she commuted to Wellington for the Autumn term.
‘I was inspired by my first impressions of Trinity a year ago, as I considered applying for the job. And it wasn’t just the sea view or the sunshine. I was impressed with the high quality of personal commitment to school life and the expectation that through an individual approach to the pupils in our care, we can achieve the highest results. On a cold and fresh January morning nine months later I fell in love with this special place all over again as I enjoyed the warmest welcome possible.
As an Independent Schools’ Inspector, I know how important strong teams are to the success of schools in providing the best experience in which children can learn. From the first day, far from being viewed with wariness, I discovered a team who feel so passionately about Trinity that they have all enjoyed introducing it to the new girl…. No request has been ignored and although much of the first weeks were spent asking ‘Why? How? When?’ any irritation was hidden well as I discovered in my new team a patience born of a calm confidence in ‘the Trinity way’.
Since my arrival, I have of course been asked ‘What do you want to do here?’ I think my hopes for the future mirror the aspirations of our parents, the ambitions of our team and most importantly the dreams of our pupils. We do not know what careers our young pupils will pursue, but we do know that as well as the highest standards of appropriate qualifications, they will need to be emotionally and socially intelligent. We all learn better when we can take more risks. We can only feel brave enough to do that if we are secure within a supportive environment. Establishing that sense of happiness and mutual understanding guides all our decision making as we strive for each individual’s excellence. These children are blessed in the personal commitment and range of opportunity they encounter every day, and it has been a delight to see them enjoy that privilege with a strong sense of responsibility and community.
As a working mother, I know how hard parents work in order to give their children the best possible start in life. We respect the responsibility and trust placed in us as we become involved with these children’s lives. We want to enjoy our partnership, with parents and children, in educating for the future. We know that open communication is the best way to achieve our shared goals. The weekly newsletter, staff present and available at the beginning and end of every day, our series of formal and informal meetings, regular reports and invitations in to school events become the fabric of that partnership.
In this extraordinarily busy world our only constant is change. If the way that this team of pupils, staff and parents have embraced change is any indicator about the quality of all our futures, no wonder I am filled with excitement at the thought of where our school is going!’
Picture shows ‘Rachel Eaton-Jones with the winners of ‘Work of the Week’ which ranged from Reception to Year 6’