23/05/2025
Principal’s Welcome
Dear Westholme Family,
Not a week goes by still without me being asked whether I miss Dubai – though the frequency has definitely dropped since this beautiful Lancashire summer began!
As I said to Year 5 parents on Tuesday during their transition meeting, I genuinely don’t miss Dubai at all, though Year 8 parents might recall the Saturday morning when the hail was driving into our faces last November as we watched the Under 13 boys’ football and the weather of Dubai did briefly cross my mind!
The reason that I don’t miss Dubai is the incredibly warm way in which you – parents, pupils, alumni, staff and Governors – welcomed me and my family back to Lancashire last Autumn. Although I have only just started to analyse the results of the parent survey, that support and ambition for Westholme shines through in your constructive feedback – thank you!
One aspect of Dubai life that I continue to consider is the ambition of their leadership. When, for example, the working week was changed from Sunday through Thursday to Monday to Friday lunchtime, we were given a month to adapt! And we did!
The speed of change didn’t necessarily work as well within education. Schools often misinterpreted ambition and attempted to incorporate the next new, shiny innovation without making sure that the fundamentals or previous initiatives were fully embedded. Literally, building on sand.
Consequently, I looked with great interest at Sheikh Mohammed’s announcement last week that lessons in AI would be compulsory in all Dubai schools from the start of next academic year. It will be interesting to see how schools interpret and implement the ruling.
As I’ve written before, I believe in the traditions of Westholme and wouldn’t seek to change the environment that so many of you wrote so fondly about in the survey. However, what also shone through was a desire to see more ambition from Westholme. I don’t see any contradiction in these views: traditional values in a modern setting.
A group of staff have already started to work on how we will incorporate AI into the life of the school safely and responsibly whilst making the most of the opportunities it presents. The working party will report back in the Autumn; I fully expect to be able to explain our policy to you and start to see the benefits for our staff and students early next academic year.
Understandably, teachers, pupils and parents may feel uncertain or concerned about AI. A well-thought-out policy will provide reassurance and clear expectation, encouraging constructive engagement. At the heart of our ambition is Westholme’s role in preparing pupils for the ethical, social and professional challenges they will face in a tech-driven world.
In that sense, I suppose, our mission in 2025 hasn’t changed so much from 1923: empowering pupils to lead with integrity, contribute meaningfully to society, and embrace life with resilience and purpose.
With very best wishes for the half-term break,
Paul Taylor
