Welcome IN

The vehicle entrance to a local secondary school, and the "IN" sign.  As one of the first things seen on arriving at the premises, it makes an impression. While the word is "In" but given it's state it's also saying, dirty, scruffy, unloved.   That' all simple word association that subtly going on.  For some it could well be the first impression, for others a re-occurring and reinforcing impression.  It's not an overnight dirty either, it's taken a good time to get into this state.

And if it's the same entrance that staff use you'd think someone might have spotted it's state and triggered some action.  Equally, it's the sort of thing that builds up slowly, and hence can go unnoticed to those who pass it most.

It's another example of the power of signs to influence that first impression, before buildings or people are able to.  So it's not the modern buildings and smart teachers that make that first impression here.  It's also the tone that gets set....what else is dirty, scruffy and unloved.....