Make a point of visiting us weekly!
Schools
Waterman Primary
Waterman Primary
To return to Waterman’s front page, please
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE
Waterman Primary School,
The Boulevard, Rochford,
SS4 1QF
Head: Mrs.Welch
01702 546237
www.watermanprimaryschool.ik.org
admin@waterman.essex.sch.uk
admin@waterman.essex.sch.uk
RL: How long have you been here?
Debbie: I have been here two years, as at the end of the school year. I have always been in Essex. I had taught for a number of years in Kents Hill school, with Bruce McMillan actually, so I began my teaching career there, and was there for four years, and then I did some travelling, and when I returned, did some work at my local school where I live, and then I worked for a school in Woodham, and then I found this position.
RL: So you arrived while the school was in special measures. What did that feel like?
Debbie: We were integral to the changes taking place, we were making decisions and dealing with the past, dealing with lots of different expectations that were there in the children, and we had to work very hard changing their mind set and their behaviours to be more positive, so there was a lot we had to put in place, policies etc. It is working well and we have a good number coming in new in September.
RL: Presumably you’ve had to help parents’ ways of thinking as well?
Debbie: Yes, and getting them more involved as well, doing as much as we could to get them involved with their children’s learning, which has been very positive. We always try to get them involved as much as possible, inviting them to school lunches, assemblies, and we do a lot of clubs for the children. Some of the things we arrange are also for the parents to join in as well.
RL: You’re enjoying being SENCO?
Debbie: Oh yes very much, it is wearing a very different hat; it’s like an extension of your class teaching role really but you are looking at the whole school rather than just your own children, asking how can you help all these children to move on, what interventions can you put in place, is what we are doing working, lots of liaison with multi agencies, and this sort of thing.
RL: Do I get the impression that you work rather long hours?
Debbie: Oh yes, we all work very hard. There is probably never a day when you don’t take work home, especially at the weekends and, yes it is early mornings and late evenings. The holidays are nice but we still come into school then, doing displays, putting the things out, doing paperwork, planning.
RL: Do you have a life of your own?
Debbie: Oh yes, you find space especially in the holidays.
RL: So what do you like doing apart from teaching?
Debbie: I love going to the theatre, I love salsa dancing, I love skiing, and I like bike riding. I love reading and just losing myself in a book, but I also love going on walks.
RL: Anything else you would like to add?
Debbie: Well I am very proud to be part of Waterman and to be part of the very positive changes that have been taken place. I am very proud to be part of the team that has brought those about.
RL: Well thank you very much Debbie, that’s been really good and adds to our understanding of what happens here.
Debbie: I have been here two years, as at the end of the school year. I have always been in Essex. I had taught for a number of years in Kents Hill school, with Bruce McMillan actually, so I began my teaching career there, and was there for four years, and then I did some travelling, and when I returned, did some work at my local school where I live, and then I worked for a school in Woodham, and then I found this position.
RL: So you arrived while the school was in special measures. What did that feel like?
Debbie: We were integral to the changes taking place, we were making decisions and dealing with the past, dealing with lots of different expectations that were there in the children, and we had to work very hard changing their mind set and their behaviours to be more positive, so there was a lot we had to put in place, policies etc. It is working well and we have a good number coming in new in September.
RL: Presumably you’ve had to help parents’ ways of thinking as well?
Debbie: Yes, and getting them more involved as well, doing as much as we could to get them involved with their children’s learning, which has been very positive. We always try to get them involved as much as possible, inviting them to school lunches, assemblies, and we do a lot of clubs for the children. Some of the things we arrange are also for the parents to join in as well.
RL: You’re enjoying being SENCO?
Debbie: Oh yes very much, it is wearing a very different hat; it’s like an extension of your class teaching role really but you are looking at the whole school rather than just your own children, asking how can you help all these children to move on, what interventions can you put in place, is what we are doing working, lots of liaison with multi agencies, and this sort of thing.
RL: Do I get the impression that you work rather long hours?
Debbie: Oh yes, we all work very hard. There is probably never a day when you don’t take work home, especially at the weekends and, yes it is early mornings and late evenings. The holidays are nice but we still come into school then, doing displays, putting the things out, doing paperwork, planning.
RL: Do you have a life of your own?
Debbie: Oh yes, you find space especially in the holidays.
RL: So what do you like doing apart from teaching?
Debbie: I love going to the theatre, I love salsa dancing, I love skiing, and I like bike riding. I love reading and just losing myself in a book, but I also love going on walks.
RL: Anything else you would like to add?
Debbie: Well I am very proud to be part of Waterman and to be part of the very positive changes that have been taken place. I am very proud to be part of the team that has brought those about.
RL: Well thank you very much Debbie, that’s been really good and adds to our understanding of what happens here.
“Meeting an Assistant Head”
Talking with Debbie Kilbride, Assistant Head of Waterman School
(9th May 2011)
Talking with Debbie Kilbride, Assistant Head of Waterman School
(9th May 2011)
RL: Debbie, would you like to introduce yourself to us?
Debbie: I am a class teacher, I am also one of the two assistant head teachers and SENCO (Special educational needs co-