Well, the end of term and this school year is upon us and as I look back over it I do so with pride.  There have been countless achievements and some stunning sporting successes which the school celebrated this afternoon.  Valence has said goodbye to its leavers in style and their thank you's tell me and you more about what the School is about than I could ever achieve even if I wrote from now until  eternity.  Here is a selection of their comments:

I would just like to take up this final opportunity to say goodbye and thanks for all the help that the special and irreplaceable environment of Valence has given me. The seven years I have been at this school have been the most influential and helpful to making me the man I am today. I will take many good things away with me that this school has taught me like being more independent and confident, the list goes on.

The one true thing I will miss about this school is EVERYTHING!  There are really not many words which can describe the emotions I’m feeling about leaving.   I cannot even tell you in words how much I will miss staff, students and just the whole school in general. I wish everyone the best of luck for the future; I will greatly miss you all.Thank you everybody for all of the countless memories I have gathered over the years.

____________________

Hard to believe my time at Valence has come to an end. So I’d just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all of you, I came here it 2002, only eleven for a few days and then I’ve tuned twelve on the 22^nd of September, I was lucky to have my Birthday at the start of term. I’ve change so much since then, I’ve grown up, and hard to believe I’ll be twenty in September. One thing is for sure though valence played a crucial part in shaping me as a person and my career. I would not be the person I am today if it were not for valence and especially the people. It’s been a memorable 8 years here at valence I’ve seen so many changes in the school as I’ve gone along and I can’t believe it. So I’d just like to say thank you to all the Staff and students here, for everything.

 ____________________

I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you, goodbye and farewell to everyone.  This school has been a great place to live and have an education at. So I would like to thank all the staff and students for all the fun times and great memories. I will always remember my 8 years at Valence.

____________________

I would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye and thank you to everyone here at Valence. This school is a unique place to live and be educated at; however, I believe that the staff and students are the most special aspects of the school. From the Teachers to the Kitchen Staff, everyone is so friendly and kind.

In a memorable 8 years, I have witnessed many changes structurally in Valence and improvements are continually being made to help the students develop and prosper. I feel that many of us, including myself have gained vital characteristics such as confidence and independence; I cannot stress how thankful I am for this.

I will really miss the great community we have here at Valence where everyone is so understanding and helpful. There has been many ups and down through the years but I will always remember the school for the fun, the laughter and my friends.

 ____________________

Well, my time at Valence is nearing an end and I just want to take this opportunity to say this something that I have wanting to say for a long time.

 I have been at valence since January 2001 (Just a mere boy of 10 years) and let me tell you it’s been a great ride, from my very first day to now. I have had my share of up’s and downs but I have come through, thanks to the many friends students and staff I have made here over the years. For this I thank you.

What will I miss about Valence? – Well the list is too big to say everything, but I suppose the thing I will miss the most is the times of laughter and fun over the years that I have shared with students and staff alike. Also I being here for so long now I have seen a lot of staff and students come and a lot of staff and students go. I have seen them grow and gain so much confidence compared to when they started here, this being especially true from my point of you. I will miss being a part of that environment witnessing this. Valence has its good and bad points but this is one of the things it does so well.

 I have felt a real sense of family within the valence community and this is the one thing about this place I will truly miss most of all.

It’s hard to sum it up really, but I think what has driven me here over the years is this crazy mix of values and emotions that I see and live everyday in everyone here: to name but a few: knowledge, understanding, humility, compassion, team work, laughter, friendship, fun, caring, mishaps, silliness, madness, love, madness achievement dedication and determination.  

 Make the most of this place and do whatever you have to do to get the most out of your lives. A good way to get through anything is to laugh and have fun!

Again thank you to all students and students and staff who have made my nine years here such a pleasure. it’s been a privilege working, playing and living alongside you. I have learnt a lot and  I hope I have taught you something too.

 Best wishes for the future – Remember – “there are a million and one ways to do things, pick the way that is right for you” - if you don’t ever try you will just wonder why…

 _____________________

And there you have it - straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak!  I don't have to make any claims about Valence School.  You can see from these and countless other unpublished testimonies the recognition of what a really special school this is.  It is full of hope, opportunity, challenge and all those values so eloquently set out above.  Our leavers can go with pride in what they have done and achieved and their independence, courage and determination is a joy to see and a privilege to be part of.

Enjoy the summer!

Just to give readers an inside look at a bit of life at Valence.......

Despite the best of intentions I didn't manage to blog before I left for Cornwall on Saturday.  

It was the start of the Year 14 Leavers' Residential at Churchtown Farm Activity Centre, Lanlivery near Lostwithiel and Bodmin.  Several trains from Paddington to Bodmin Parkway had to be used to accommodate the 10 students who use wheelchairs but this all went pretty smoothly having been taken from Valence to Paddington by minibus. 

The train journeys were stunning passing through southern England, hillside white horses and castle ruins  and then reaching Exeter where the track takes a course right alongside the River Exe and then the sea at Dawlish and Teignmouth.

We were all at the Centre by late afternoon and everyone settled in really well.  Zena Belton, Head of Upper School entertained us as she put up her tent under instruction from student, John Pereira.  The instruction was infinitely superior to the erection of the tent!  I hadn't walked around too long before I tripped over a guy rope and went head over heels across the lawn much to the amusement of those looking on. 

Of course, being under canvass isn't every member of staff's forte and in the case of one of our staff not realising that it is best to open the zip up fully before entering.  By not doing so she got her hair caught in the tent zip at 12.30 a.m causing much commotion and an elaborate rescue!

Well, actually the week isn't about the marvellous staff who volunteered to go on the residential but the 11 student leavers who were showing off their learnt independence and life skills and who were determined to have one final great time away from School before embarking upon various college and university courses.

  There was boating on a lake on Sunday - unfortunately by this time the Cornish  drizzle was horizontal but nevertheless everyone had a really enjoyable experience. 

Then on Monday after a visit to the Churchtown farm and close encounters with a few hens we left Cornwall for the city of Plymouth.  Students got a good view of the Hoe and where Sir Francis Drake played bowls (three times actually as I misguided the convoy of buses along the Hoe roads). 

Then it was off to do some shopping - Drakes Circus - more independence but not great money management skills as the shops seemed to be doing pretty well from our group!  After this we went to the Barbican ('mind the harbour as there is no barrier'- a regular warning issued by staff much to the annoyance of a few of the young people!) for an excellent meal sitting outside. A few adventurous students had locally caught seafood whilst others stuck to more traditional pasta or a nice juicy Devon steak.  Of course, it all had to be appropriately washed down! 

Back to Lanlivery via the Torpoint ferry and a very late trip comes to an end.  Still the flagging staff were to be disappointed as many students got a second wind with bed being far away from their minds!

On Tuesday we took a lovely trip down to Looe and despite nail-biting moments as students sat adjacent to an unprotected harbour some 8 metres deep the crabbing began.  We were told the largest catch was 250 but sadly ours only reached a couple of dozen. There was great competition to see who could reel in the most crabs on the very smelly bait of chopped fish heads. 

After lunch on the Prom battling against a hoard of hungry gulls and pigeons we made our way through the quaint town and back to the buses. Jess Lewis, Personalised Care and Inclusion Leader and I left the group to take the Looe Valley train back to Liskeard and the London train for our return to Valence.   We slept!

My initial feelings are a mixture of emotions as we are seeing one group of students reach the end on many years at Valence whilst at the same time witnessing their increased independence, move into adulthood and their sheer guts and determination.  They went determined to have fun (much at my expense!) and are living that out. I am proud of them all and of the staff who have so ably enabled, taught, supported, challenged and encouraged them. 

Despite much ragging on both sides and some not very politically correct moments there was enormous evidence of mutual respect, a respect than runs deep in both students and staff.  This again is what Valence is about and should be a huge encouragement to children and young people and their parents if they are thinking about Valence as a possible school placement.  The residential sums up what Valence is about -  'you can do if you decide to!'

Finally, my lasting memories are of very loud music, hot conversation about whether or not Germany will win the Football World Cup (our three Red Cross volunteers from Germany are there!), students climbing the indoor climbing wall and some pretty appalling demonstrations of Pool especially by  the staff. 

I am still searching to find out who Saint Brevita is - there is a holy well in the grounds and Lanlivery church is dedicated to him/her - the only dedication to this saint in the world!