A Feelgood Christmas Cracker

Picture a school facing extremely challenging circumstances. It’s situated in the most deprived local government ward in England and Wales. It can be rough, tough, hard. It’s also an all-singing, all-dancing school. Kids and staff ensure that no opportunity to perform or celebrate is missed. There’s an end-of-term show. Some kids sing to backing tracks. A few play rudimentary guitar. Some just sing and this is accepted, possibly because a young teacher has done it very effectively. Near the end, Gemma appears on stage. The fact that she’s there at all raises some titters. Gemma is the sort of overweight, red-cheeked, essentially shy yet sometimes loud-mouthed, slightly immature girl who, though she has friends, attracts more than her fair share of teasing and outright ridicule. She starts to sing. Actually, she’s not got a bad voice. But it’s obvious that she’s nervous. There’s a tremor and she’s not singing quite loud enough. The titters have faded. Now there’s a slight tension spreading across the packed hall. She scarcely reaches a high note. She falters, picks it up, falters, then stops. There are some amused snorts, some indeterminate murmuring, then almost a silence . Everyone is wondering what will happen. Gemma stands, shaking. Tears appear on her cheeks, which seem to redden further. Time stands still.

Then, quietly, at first, ‘Come on, Gemma.’……‘Gem!’……‘You can do it.’ Gradually, it builds. A chorus of empathy, support, encouragement. Gemma, whose eyes have been pointing down to the floor, looks up briefly. She looks down again. She is trying. She is trying so hard. The encouragement continues. Everyone is willing her to pull through. She starts. The audience quietens. They’re listening. She continues. There’s some applause, but people are careful not to overwhelm her. Gradually she finds her voice. As she does so, the audience becomes more enthusiastic. She builds towards the climax. The audience builds with her. They are willing her on. She gets there. A massive response greets her - shouts, applause, ‘Gemma! Gemma!’. She stands there, tears flowing freely now, not knowing what to do with herself. The popular drama teacher comes on and throws her ample inclusive arms around her. Gemma is swallowed up in the shared pride and appreciation. She will never forget that day.

That’s the kind of success that will never figure in ‘performance tables’ and OFSTED reports but, by God, it matters. That’s achievement.