What was your background prior to joining Newcastle School for Boys?
I joined Newcastle School for Boys in 2006 shortly after its formation out of the merger between our two predecessor boys’ prep schools: Ascham House and Newlands. My initial role at NSB was to establish the GCSE programme as we then extended the School’s age range. Subsequently, I also became involved in helping to set up the School’s Sixth Form. I came into post as Headmaster in April 2012.
Prior to joining NSB, I had been Head of Middle School at The Perse School, Cambridge, which was then a boys’ school. I was there for five years having also spent eight years as an English and Games teacher and housemaster at Alleyn’s an independent co-educational day school in south east London. Before becoming a teacher I had worked in financial services for a number of years.
Learn. Achieve. Develop.
What do you feel have been your
major achievements at the school?
It has been very exciting to be involved in the setting up of a new school over the past ten years. The school has been established very successfully in a challenging and fast-changing marketplace. NSB has a distinctive ethos warm and supportive. We maximise each individual boy’s academic progress whilst at the same time developing their character. It has been particularly pleasing to see the demand for places at NSB grow an indication of the quality of the all-round educational experience that we are providing.
Can you highlight some key
student accomplishments over the
past 12 months?
These are many and varied. Some make headlines; others take place quietly but not unnoticed on a daily basis and tell of individual boys’ progress and achievements. They don’t make headlines but are no less important or significant for that.
We have just celebrated our best ever GCSE results with 59% of our boys achieving A* to A grades and a third of these being A* grades – our most common grade awarded. We also added a great deal of value in this summer’s A level results. 51% of all grades were awarded A* to B and the vast majority of our university applicants achieved places at their chosen universities.
Away from the classroom, our boys have enjoyed many successes: individual and team on the sports field, in musical performance and in other areas such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme. A particular highlight would be last year’s Under 13 cricketers becoming North of England champions and reaching the semi-final of the national competition.
What do you consider to be the most
important aspect of education?
Ultimately, I believe that the most important aspect of education is the positive values and behaviours that we are able to instil in young people and that will help them to lead happy, fulfilled and successful lives.
Summarise the core beliefs of NSB
Learn. Achieve. Develop.
How much emphasis do you place on
extra-curricular activities?
Extra-curricular activities are a very important part of school life. In fact, we don’t refer to them as extra-curricular, we refer to them as co-curricular something that is enjoyed with the curriculum rather than being additional or bolted on to it. It is the co-curricular activities alongside our academic curriculum that does so much to develop our boys into young men of excellent character.
What positive changes have you seen in education generally during your tenure?
Most Headteachers come up through either an academic or a pastoral route. I came up largely through the pastoral route, particularly in the earlier stages of my career. Education is about so much more than just delivering exam results so I particularly welcome the recent emphasis and focus on young people’s wellbeing.
And what changes would you like to
see going forward?
Most of all I would like to see education ceasing to become a political football and the constant state of change and uncertainty this imposes on children, schools and teachers. I would love to see an effective cross-party approach to education that genuinely prioritised our children’s and the country’s needs.
Where do you see yourself and the school in five years’ time?
We have just launched our plans for the next ten years of NSB’s development. These will see the School continue to grow, whilst retaining its distinctive ethos and character. We will continue to pursue the highest standards of teaching and learning for boys – informed by the very best practice and research evidence and validated by our boys and parents. We will continue to invest in our buildings and facilities to provide the best possible environment for our boys, with the ultimate aim of creating a school that is housed on a single, purpose-designed site.
We have identified areas of particular specialism that we are seeking to develop. These are in science, technology, engineering and Mathematics (STEM), business and entrepreneurship, media and sport. Some of these are already identified strengths of the School and we are seeking to take these forward for the future opportunities and benefits they provide for our boys and the region.
We are seeking to continue to broaden our co-curricular programme and provide the very best pastoral care that supports boys’ personal development and wellbeing through planned programmes that develop the qualities in our boys to allow them to be happy and fulfilled in their lives. It will allow them to be able to meet the many and particular challenges and pressures faced by young people growing up today. We are also developing a programme of service for our boys to make a genuine contribution to their community and that helps them to understand and appreciate their own position and opportunities.
Away from the office/classroom, how do you like to relax?
I love living in the north east. I live at the coast with my family: wife, Caroline, also a teacher, and our two daughters. At the weekends, we can often be found on the beach at Tynemouth walking our dog. As an English teacher, one of my passions is reading and literature. I am also a big sports fan and enjoy the access to sport that the region provides.
www.newcastleschool.co.uk
