Term 2 Staff Development Day

To Be Balanced

Our Term 2 Staff Development Day at Cranbrook School opened with reflections from Head of Senior School Bob Meakin, who celebrated the success of the tours that took place over the holiday break. His reminder about the importance of balancing activities during both term time and holidays set a fitting tone for the day ahead.

Following this, Acting Head of School Stuart Meade challenged us to find balance and joy in our teaching, highlighting that balance is essential not only for our students’ growth, but also for sustaining our own passion, creativity, and wellbeing as educators.

Building on this theme, Matt Banes explored what it truly means for our students and community to live with balance – balancing academics and wellbeing, structure and flexibility, ambition and care.

He also unveiled a suite of new resources that mentors will use to actively promote balance in students’ daily routines, study habits, and personal development.

As part of our PBIS (Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports) focus, Elizabeth Fletcher reinforced the importance of connection before correction, encouraging staff to use thoughtful conversations to support students in developing greater self-regulation and engagement.

Adrian Harrison and Angelique Sanders reminded us that differentiation is fundamental to both academic success and wellbeing. Their insights highlighted that academic achievement and student wellbeing are deeply connected: when we meet students where they are, we create the conditions for both to thrive.

It’s inspiring to work in a school where wellbeing and academic excellence are developed hand-in-hand.

Hannah Thomas
Director of Professional Learning