Our Focus Week addressing Action Against Domestic Violence examined a theme all too common in local households in our local area and a focus for Lichfield District Council in terms of violence particularly towards women and girls in our community.
Indeed, as a school which gets domestic violence incidents flagged to us that affect our children, we well appreciate how domestic violence blights the lives of children in our care.
This Focus Week saw special assemblies and tutor time activities that examined the issue and linked in related issues including mental health, the impact on families and children, the awareness amongst one another that some students live in intolerable climates at home, and that violence in a moment – whether a one-off or sustained – lasts far longer than the physical act.
Elsewhere, or Interact Club presented a £1,000+ cheque to The Pathways Project in Lichfield – a local charity who have supported those affected by domestic and sexual abuse in our region for over 25 years.
We also had PSHE sessions for Year 10 which addressed themes related to this topic through the week and out Thought for the Week was Isaac Asimov’s (a US writer and biochemist), view that: “Violence is the last refuge of the impotent.”
Matt Allman, Headteacher, said: “In dealing with children on a daily basis we all too regularly need to support those struggling in school and a factor behind their disconnect is the violence and intimidation in the home. Only this week I dealt with a student with issues related to attendance, learning and behaviour, and in the background is domestic violence. It is our job to get exam passes out of these young people, but we also take it equally as our role to make sure that the violence that blights some homes does not become cyclical and go on to blight future homes.”
