So the “back to school” adverts are running on the TV. The ones that made you feel a bit sick as a kid, since they started showing up  at least three weeks before terms starts. It’s funny how old habits die hard, and September always feels like its the start of a new term at work. So if PR were a school, what would our motto be? I’ve picked six educational bits of Latin that I think could be helpful to remember as we return after this year’s holiday season.

Tempori Parendum – We move with the times, High School of Stirling
Yes, the media world is changing very quickly, the web and new mobile technology allows communications channels that no-one foresaw at the start of last year’s Michelmas term. Shocks aplenty, as last year’s head boy has hooked up with the school gossip, which just goes to show, anything’s possible. As leader in communications and with plenty of other schools judging PR College on our exam results, we have to constantly be revising the curriculum - only the fleet footed will survive, and we don’t want parents sending their kids down the road at the Advertising Academy do we?

Esse Quam Videri – To be, rather than to seem to be, Southampton Grammar School
This term, the web is the most transparent media we’ve got – even better than that acrylic lying around the DT lab. However, too many students are still apparently unaware that the whole school internet is rigged with clever CCTV stuff and if you go around making impersonations, or playing on the astroturf without permission, you will get caught – and made to write 1000 lines apology updates on Twitter.

Ut Voce Ita Vita– As with your voice, so with your life, Exeter Cathedral School
Memo for the teachers at PR College – it’s all very well telling your clients students to get involved in this social media malarkey, but if you’re not doing it yourself, what kind of a role model are you? (Disclaimer – this was my prep school)

Audi et Aude– Learn and Dare, Ravenscroft School
I fear too many of the summer term’s projects have been plagiarised or simply re-used versions of previous campaigns. Where’s the ambition in you? This year I’d like to see more daring projects, stuff that hasn’t been done before, that’s going to keep our students excited and interested, and coming back for more lessons and after school activities. I suggest field trips to art galleries, musical concerts and the theatre to revive your creative minds.

Provida Futuri – Mindful of the future, Pitzer College, California
Maybe it’s that Usain Bolt guy making it popular, but sprinting was oversubscribed this summer. On the other hand, our cross country running team has a few very keen & successful members that need supporting with all the help we can give them. Students need to know that it’s not how fast you run, it’s how far. A good sprint today may be forgotten about next week, but distance runners prove their worth and show real commitment to the sport. (If that makes no sense, read this)

Ex antiquis et novissimis optima – The best out of the old and the new, Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge
Ok, we all love ICT lessons, and playing around with the new gym equipment. But our library is one of the most well stocked in the country, and many people still love libraries. The web is great and allows us to really thrive as a school, but it’s not all about Twitter and all her friends. It’s our job to ensure that clients students get the best programme that fulfils their objectives and turns them into rounded brands individuals. The newspapers still matter, TV still matters. They may be in decline, and social media may be on the up, and while there are 19m active users of Facebook in the UK, that means there are 40m people that don’t use it.

Best of luck, looking forward to a great year.

Lewis Webb

Head of Year 7