Friday Flyer - 6th February 2026
Dear Michael Hall Community,
I wrote last week about bidding farewell to a very wet January, and now we are now being welcomed into a wet February!
As many of our parent body will know through the informal communication network, we were visited by His Majesty’s Inspectors from OFSTED earlier this week. This was an unannounced inspection visit and took us all by surprise. The feedback remains confidential until the report has been fact checked, with any challenges or complaints we may have stretching that time into approximately a two-month period. I anticipate a positive report in all aspects that were inspected.
Inspections create opportunities for quite deep reflection and observation on how we think, how our thoughts influence our behaviours and what impact our reflections have on altering and improving on what we do; even if it is all going well. A famous Roman general once wrote of the importance of preparing for war in times of peace. I am not suggesting we are at war with OFSTED or any inspection body, but I believe in being prepared for what may come is vital; so, in our time of peace post inspection, we will review and prepare for what comes next.
I have been a qualified teacher since nineteen ninety-nine. I have delivered thousands of lessons to thousands of children. But it was not until two thousand and six that I became truly reflective in my practice in a meaningful way which impacted not only how I planned for my pupils, but how I behaved in our interactions. I began to truly plan, truly reflect and intently refine. This educational epiphany came through delivering a reflective practitioner unit to a chaotic class ten group who I was preparing for sports coaching awards.
There was nothing ‘wrong’ with how I had taught before. I have always been an effective teacher, textbook OFTSED inspection lessons, videoed lessons showing good practice for staff training, mentoring other colleagues, modelling for early career teachers, and excellent results for my pupils. I have always been a good or outstanding (depending on which inspector visited) teacher. But I got better. I improved myself for my pupils, I connected with what they needed and I was willing to change how I did what I was doing to be there for them. I was present.
Purely by coincidence, or through an unseen force guiding us, our whole staff meeting this week is focussed on observation and reflection. Our school and the Waldorf approach to teaching requires us to be able to observe detail. To be able to step back and see the whole, then focus in on the individual details. The work, the behaviour, the inter-relationships, the stance, the gestures all become part of our teaching in the moment. What we may miss in those moments, we reflect on afterwards. And then we refine.
The concept of meditating on your class and pupils is a common phrase and practice used in Waldorf education. I have found the phrasing around this a bit alien as someone new to the school. However, most of the best teachers I have worked with have always thought about their classes and the individuals outside of their classrooms in a conscious effort to improve the lessons for the pupils. Perhaps this is not identical to meditation, but it is strongly similar and is used in teacher training across the land. Steiner was well ahead of his time in that regard.
My view of meditation on the class or reflective practice is that whatever time we spend doing this, it should have an impact or at least start an action. Our latest inspection will inform the actions we take, but it has added to an ongoing and passionate conversation across our school; who are we for our pupils now, are we what our pupils need us to be now and for the future, and the challenging question, how willing are we to change what we do to be the teachers and school that they need to prepare them for what lies ahead of them? I came into education because I have passion, hope and big ideas for our children. I am looking forward to our future as Michael Hall, delivering the very best modern Waldorf education for our pupils.
Stuart McWilliams
Principal
It's a new year and spring is on the way; it's time for sowing to begin for us this month. 
and peppers to be sown this month.
Ways to Contribute
February's Forest Row Ceilidh Club is coming soon!
Organic Apple Juice from our orchard at Old Tile House
