Headteacher 'astounded' as her inspirational exam results letter to student goes viral the world over

A thoughtful letter sent by headteacher to pupils at Lancashire primary school has gone viral on social media sites.

07:35 17 July 2014

Head teacher Rachel Tomlinson from a Lancashire primary school sent a special, unique, and inspirational exam results to students and was shocked to find that her message found its way to various social media sites around the world.

 

The letter tells the students that although the test results tell them something, it does not tell them everything. It added that the school is “proud” of the students for showing “huge amount of commitment and tried your best during a tricky week.” It added: "these tests do not always assess all of what it is that make each of you special and unique".

 

The letter reads: Please find enclosed your end of KS2 test results. We are very proud of you as you demonstrated huge amounts of commitment and tried your very best during this tricky week.

 

However, we are concerned that these tests do not always assess all of what it is that make each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you... the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do.

 

They do not know that many of you speak two languages. They do not know that you can play a musical instrument or that you can dance or paint a picture.

 

They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them or that your laughter can brighten the dreariest day. They do not know that you write poetry or songs, play or participate in sports, wonder about the future, or that sometimes you take care of your little brother or sister after school.

 

They do not know that you have travelled to a really neat place or that you know how to tell a great story or that you really love spending time with special family members and friends.

 

They do not know that you can be trustworthy, kind or thoughtful, and that you try, every day, to be your very best... the scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything.

 

So enjoy your results and be very proud of these but remember there are many ways of being smart.

 

The head teacher, who was “astounded” with the feedback added: "We never give pupils the message that academic attainment isn't important - what we do is celebrate that we send really independent, confident, articulate learners on to the next stage of their school career."