The theme for the week in School is thankfulness.  As the mornings become darker and colder, line up is chilly.  The morning prayer can be that little piece of warmth.  Collective worship. Students take so long just lining up but I realise that they move around and fidget because they are chilly. And restless, of course. I see some of them with such expressions that can only indicate they are lost in thought. It takes my mind back to when I was their age. The year 10’s, at 14 years old have so many thoughts these days about how they look and feel as opposed to dreaming about where to go and how to get there. I know because I speak to them about this. Some of them can’t see beyond their homes and school, and the town centre they frequent at weekends.

This little glimpse of routine at school is something they reject, but at the same time, something they crave.