Skip to content
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • School
    • About FBS
    • Christian Ethos
    • Enterprise
    • Founders
    • Governors
    • CEO – The FBS Trust
    • Staff
    • Ofsted and Siams Report
    • Policies
    • Pupil Premium
    • Financial Information
    • Vacancies
    • Hire Our Space
    • Friends of FBS
  • Admissions
    • Year 7 Admissions
    • In Year Admissions
    • Sixth Form Admissions
  • Parents & Students
    • Term Dates
    • School Day
    • FBS Parent Platforms
    • Pastoral Care
    • Senior Prefect Team
    • Uniform
    • School Meals
    • Absence / Lateness
    • Remote Learning
    • Student Curriculum Maps
    • E-Safety
    • Chromebooks
    • Report a Concern
  • Sixth Form
    • Overview
    • Sixth Form Admissions
    • Academic Life
    • Life Outside the Classroom
    • Sport
    • Dress Code
    • 16-19 Bursary Fund
    • UCAS
    • Leavers Destinations
  • Curriculum
    • Curriculum Overview
    • Departments
    • SEND
    • Reading
    • Exam Results
    • Careers Education
  • Co-Curricular
    • Overview
    • Co-Curricular Sport
    • Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
  • News
    • Latest News
    • FBS Blog
    • School Calendar
    • Headmaster’s Bulletin
    • Twitter
  • Support FBS
    • Why Support FBS?
    • Ways to Donate
  • Contact
Go to the home page of The Fulham Boys School
The Fulham Boys School

The Fulham Boys School

Dickensian lessons for an NQT

Posted: 20 January 20211 June 2022

By Helen Watkinson, English Teacher

As a teacher of English, I spend the vast majority of my time reading, writing, and thinking about other people’s words. Therefore, when reflecting on my first term as a newly qualified teacher at the Fulham Boys School, I turned to literature. I thought about Shakespeare. I thought about Austen. I thought about Virginia Woolf. But, eventually, I settled on Dickens. The following quotations – the opening lines of some of his most famous pieces of writing – seemed to me to sum up what teaching has taught me thus far… 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
– A Tale of Two Cities

1st September 2020. The best of times: the beginning of an exciting new chapter. The worst of times: beginning this chapter in the midst of a global pandemic. The challenges I faced starting out in teaching in 2020 were unprecedented; the rewards have been unimaginable. 

Lesson: There is always a silver lining. 

Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts.  Facts alone are wanted in life.  Plant nothing else, and root out everything else.  You can only form the minds of reasoning animals upon Facts: nothing else will ever be of any service to them.
    – Hard Times

There is no question of the value of teaching facts but this year has demonstrated that much more than ‘facts alone’ are wanted in life. Never have courage, resilience, compassion and determination been more important. In his first blog of the academic year, Alun Ebenezer quoted Anthony Seldon: “Exams tell a truth about a young person. An important truth. But they do not tell the whole truth. They tell us little or nothing about the character of the young person, about who they are, or what they have to offer the world.” I have been perpetually amazed and inspired by the strength of character demonstrated by each and every Fulham boy in these most testing of times. 

Lesson: Experience is our common schoolhouse. 

The appearance presented by the streets of London an hour before sunrise, on a summer’s morning, is most striking even to the few whose unfortunate pursuits of pleasure, or scarcely less unfortunate pursuits of business, cause them to be well acquainted with the scene.  There is an air of cold, solitary desolation about the noiseless streets which we are accustomed to see thronged at other times by a busy, eager crowd, and over the quiet, closely-shut buildings, which throughout the day are swarming with life and bustle, that is very impressive.
    – Sketches by Boz

The (very) early morning commute is an oddly beautiful experience. Walking alone through deserted, silent city streets. Watching the sunrise from an empty carriage. London at dawn, hushed and still, has a special kind of magic. 

Lesson: Be an early bird. 

My father’s family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.
    – Great Expectations

Pupils’ names are important. It is important to say them, use them, learn them, remember them. 

Lesson: What’s in a name? Everything. 

London. Michaelmas term lately over, and the Lord Chancellor sitting in Lincoln’s Inn Hall. Implacable November weather. As much mud in the streets as if the waters had but newly retired from the face of the earth, and it would not be wonderful to meet a Megalosaurus, forty feet long or so, waddling like an elephantine lizard up Holborn Hill. 
    – Bleak House

Prepare for the elements — especially on duty days. Always carry the essentials, no matter what season it may claim to be (waterproof coat, wind-resistant umbrella, warm gloves). London weather is reliably unreliable. 

Lesson: There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. 

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.
    – David Copperfield

Over the past year, it has become apparent that schooling is about so much more than teaching. It’s about personal growth. It’s about being part of a community. It’s about forging character. This year, ordinary people have performed extraordinary acts of kindness. Everyday existence has become a frontline. We have clapped and cheered and banged pots and pans for normal people. There is no doubt that this academic year has been tough but the ‘can do’ attitude of everyone at FBS has been truly astonishing; the school may be built on “standards, standards, standards” but there is nothing standard about it. 

Lesson: We can all turn out to be the hero. 

Posted in FBS Blog

Post navigation

<< Previous Previous post: 2021
Next >> Next post: When it comes to our boys, trust us.
Skip sidebar and go to content

News

  • Latest News
  • FBS Blog
  • School Calendar
  • Headmaster’s Bulletin
  • Twitter
Go to the home page of The Fulham Boys School
The Fulham Boys School
The Fulham Boys School
532 Fulham Road
London
SW6 5BD
020 7381 7100
http://info@fulhamboysschool.org.uk

Statutory Information

  • Contact
  • Year 7 Admissions
  • Sixth Form Admissions
  • Ofsted and Siams Report
  • Results & Performance Tables
  • Curriculum
  • Remote Learning
  • Policies & Equality Objectives
  • Pupil Premium
  • SEND
  • Careers Education
  • Financial Information
  • Governors
  • Christian Ethos

Useful Links

  • ISAMS Parent Portal
  • Parent Pay
  • FBS Shop
  • SOCS
  • Accelerated Reader

Privacy Information

  • Cookie Policy
  • Data Protection Policy
©  The Fulham Boys School  2023 | Designed by The Education Space
  • Twitter
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cookie Policy
Cookie Settings
Accept AllReject All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo