William Penn School. Photo: Photo courtesy of the William Penn School.
Visiting Coolham
Susan Richardson considers the joy of school visiting
As I walk across the school hall, I am greeted with the sound of soft music playing in the background. On the floor, just over one hundred children, aged between five and eleven, sit cross-legged in neat rows, smart as paint in their scarlet and grey uniform. They are the children of the William Penn School, in Coolham, West Sussex.
The school, which was originally started by the community of Quakers living in Coolham in the nineteenth century, is unique in that, although now controlled by the local authority, it has a Quaker foundation. There are two Quakers from our Area Meeting on its board of governors. I have been visiting the school twice each term for many years now, using assembly time to talk to the children about all things Quaker. Each year I choose a ‘theme’ for my visits. This year it is about Quakers who have made a difference to our lives: the clockmakers, doctors and chemists, bankers and other individuals who have committed their lives to our Quaker values for the good of others.
It is obvious as you enter the building that the ethos of Quakerism is present in the school, not just from the names of the classrooms – Cadbury, Fry, Fox and Jocelyn Bell-Burnell – but from the atmosphere of learning in an environment where all are valued for what talents, skills and personality they bring. Each child is given the opportunity to learn and play to the best of its ability. The school’s motto is ‘Living, Laughing and Learning Together’.
I am always amazed that, as I begin to talk, I see the children centre down. Attentive eyes and ears watch and listen. There is stillness in the hall. As my talk progresses I ask questions and involve the children in all that I am doing. I may refer back to other talks that I have given, and the response is the same: the children have excellent memories. Most of the children can name the Quaker testimonies. They are written on the wall of each classroom. All the teaching staff are dedicated to ensuring that the children know and understand the Quaker testimonies and how they can impact on their lives.
When I am preparing my notes and resources for a talk at the school I feel a sense of excitement because I know that I am going to have a unique experience. That experience is the joy I feel when I am at the school, the deep sense of spirituality I feel as the children centre down, and the shared fun and laughter that we enjoy as we delve into the history of some of the most fascinating and inspiring Quakers from our rich history. School visiting is a privilege, a shared experience that never ceases to uplift me and reinforces my faith in Quaker outreach.
