Chronicle January 2021

7 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

for all pupils. It is satisfying to note that such a large number went on to become heads of other schools, many of which are very well known. More privately, I enjoyed being able to support my wife, Elsa, in re-establishing, as a charity, The Unicorn School for the Dyslexic Child, which has filled an important need in Oxfordshire. I am proud of our children. One is active in fighting climate change; another promotes inclusion and the Paralympic Movement; while the youngest, after ten years as a primary teacher in deprived areas, has retrained as a special needs teacher. What were the challenges of the time? The improvement in facilities was necessary and I was fully supported by the Governors and Bursar to carry these out. In a boarding school, House improvements can mean delaying improvements elsewhere of course, and it was a constant juggling act to establish priorities Very early in my time the authorities demanded that we massively upgrade the kitchens. This led to all sorts of unexpected problems, e.g. asbestos and rotten lead piping. These were very expensive to fix, which put a financial brake on other plans. One benefit, though, was

that we were able to ‘lose’ the old junior dining room, which was a horrible sight to behold. The space became a much-needed new staff common room. Keeping the school sustainable in economic recessions was a challenge, especially as a number of schools, sometimes with inducements, went hunting for pupils to bolster their numbers. Society’s attitudes were changing rapidly too, and positioning school policies could at times be very tricky – we could not be too far ahead or behind the times. Take the drugs policy. Throughout the independent system, schools took an uncompromising stance, fearful of seeming 'soft on drugs' with its reputational damage. Over the years these policies have evolved into a more pastoral/educational mode, without being 'soft on drugs'. Today’s school will be coping with COVID, and in the longer term its aftermath in terms of the nation’s finances. Add to that the fact that Brexit’s outcome is uncertain, and time will tell if the people were right to decide to leave. Life will be more difficult for the young generation and I wonder how schools will factor in these matters as they prepare pupils for their future.

David in his bookroom at home

support and challenge from Governors and highly professional Bursars. As co-ed blossomed it brought great changes to the School’s atmosphere. I felt it became a kinder place. A number of key appointments, particularly at Head of Department level, were critical in raising attainment standards

The Olivier Hall and the Christie Centre