Why it is important to support local schools.
When we are kids, if we are lucky, there will be some teachers who inspire us. With me it was my English teacher. He loved his subject and was able to convey his passion when teaching, it is thanks to him that I read so much and use words that result in blank looks from my own sons!
What does this have to do with property? Well quite a lot actually, schools are one of the reasons many people move here. For some years we have recognised at Michael Hardy that it is important to support these schools where and when we can.
Initially we did this by supporting fetes in the summer and autumn but in the past few years we have started to offer one particular school support more directly. I first met Steve Hempson-Jones, headmaster at Hawthorns School on Woosehill 3 years ago. I wanted to understand why so many parents were moving to get their kids in to his school. It doesn’t take long to work out! From the moment you enter the reception there is an air of benign calm bright coloured walls and people, adults and children, with smiles on their face, it is easy to see why Hawthorns received outstanding in its last inspection. As a result of our first meeting Michael Hardy pledged ……… support for the building of the music cabin which was completed in 2010. At the beginning of last year Steve approached me with the idea of using posters to inspire the children to meet a set of values; a sense of adventure, of respect to oneself and to others, of aspiration, to name but a few. In December we met up and Steve showed me what had been done so far. The school corridors now have large colour photographs of the kids undertaking various activities which convey the message that Steve and his staff are trying to get across. Like any businessman I rarely like signing cheques but the £1,000 I sent to Hawthorns School just before Christmas was a pleasure. The residents of Wokingham recognise that education matters which may seem an obvious statement but it isn’t a nationwide attitude.
With Schools like Hawthorns and headmasters like Steve Hempson Jones it isn’t hard to understand why Wokingham enjoys such a high standard of education, at Michael Hardy we recognise how vital it is to keep these standards high so will continue support school however and whenever we can .
