The Chronicle January 2020

34 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Paul Davies What is your role at Teddies and how long have you been here? I joined the School at the beginning of September and I am the new Matron in Kendall House and the first man to fill this role at Teddies. What did you do before? My main career has been as a Police Officer for thirty years with Thames Valley Police. I served mainly as a uniformed officer but was also part of a tactical firearms support team and a Police dog handler and trainer. Since retiring I have worked at The Marlborough School in Woodstock and Hill View Primary School in Banbury coaching PE and games before coming to Teddies. What made you want to be a Matron? I have always worked within a caring environment and looked forward to the opportunity to get to know all of the boys and to help make the boarding house a home from home for them. What’s a typical day for a Matron? The easiest thing to say about this is that there is never a typical day and each one brings new challenges and surprises. This is what makes it such an interesting role. There is always a bit of care, some careful listening, advice, guidance, gentle reminders about housekeeping and a good bit of food for the boys thrown in. What are the essential skills for a successful Matron? I think patience and understanding are essential skills, as being able to find time to listen to the boys during a busy day is an important part of the job. What do you enjoy most about the role? Being able to help the boys solve issues and to make their day-to-day lives that little bit easier, plus seeing them enjoy and appreciate the food that I have prepared for them. How do you fit into the wider pastoral network? I feel that the Matrons are at the forefront of pastoral care within the School and if we can’t help then we have a good support network behind us to refer the pupils on to: Tutors, Teachers, Counsellors or the Health Centre. Which are the best bits of the day in House? I think the end of the school day when the boys come back into House a bit more relaxed and regale me with their tales of the day’s activities. What have been the highlights of your first term at Teddies? Building successful working relationships with all of the boys in House has been a highlight and I have really enjoyed watching them compete on the rugby field and seeing the outstanding talents on display in The Music School and the school plays. What do you think the pupils gain from being at school in a city like Oxford? Oxford is an exciting and vibrant city and having it on our doorstep provides many opportunities for our pupils, from interaction with the

University to theatre, music and the arts. Best advice you’ve ever been given?

Be honest with yourself and always strive to be the best that you can be. This has served me well and I would be happy to pass this advice on to anybody.