Chronicle Summer 2023

13 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

What are the biggest challenges facing the School in the coming years? The obvious challenges are outside the School, with the possibility of VAT on fees and changes to the regulation of independent schools. We can try to meet those challenges by growing the School to make it more financially efficient, by generating more letting income from our buildings in the holidays, by keeping a close eye on costs, and by opening St Edward’s schools in other countries in commercial partnerships. At the same time, there’s no doubt that it would become harder to do everything that we want to do, especially with bursaries and capital projects. Within the School, there are the constant challenges of managing change, making sure that we are getting the best staff, making sure that we are looking after them at a time of rising pressure on all of us, and – most importantly

of fun at school. That’s not a school that’s too academic; that’s a great school in which pupils are doing amazing things in all areas. How do you ensure that Teddies continues to develop and to improve without diluting its very special ethos? People say that culture eats strategy for breakfast, and we would not have been able to make so many changes in the last two years if they had been against the grain, if they had gone against the culture in the School. Our statement to the Charity Commission talks about a liberal and open ethos – and those are just the right words to describe Teddies. We have given pupils more choice over their subjects in the Shell, more subjects to choose from in the Middle School, more opportunities to try new activities in the co-curriculum, more talks

and lectures that they can choose to attend in the evening. We have created more opportunities for them to help each other through committees and forums, surveys and mentoring schemes. We have also given them more time and more opportunity to think about the part that they want to play in society, through Teddies Collaborates and the service programme. Looking to the future, our plans for the School are not developing in an echo chamber – they are evolving through conversations with everyone, pupils, parents, OSE and staff. The culture in any organisation is created by its people, and if our strategy and our plans follow on from those conversations, they will match its ethos. That’s how we’ll be able to keep Teddies, Teddies.

MY TEDDIES EXPERIENCE

Armela Lasku Currently working for an international criminal defence team at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, after studying Law at the University of Oxford. I joined St Edward’s from Matthew Arnold, a secondary school in of dedication to studies, consistent hard work and genuine interest in knowledge. I currently work for an

Oxford, and the thing that surprised me most about Teddies was the real opportunity to get involved in so many different activities. During my time at St Edward’s, I tried hockey and rowing for the first time, and took part in both the RAF and Army sections of the Combined Cadet Force. I also enjoyed one to-one piano lessons in the Music School as well as seeing plays and exhibitions at the School’s North Wall Arts Centre. One of my top highlights was the close-knit environment of my boarding House. I made friends for life that I will cherish forever. Further, it was amazing to win the Adams Award at Gaudy in the Upper Sixth. The award was recognition

international criminal defence team at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, which is something that I am passionate about and really love! I have also just finished Bar School and look forward to developing a career at the Bar. I would advise anybody considering applying for a bursary to go for it! It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and at Teddies your life will completely change.