“In this high tech world things are so different to my experience but, whatever you do, do it with passion and a determination to help young people too become exemplary members of adult society.”
Your Loughborough Story
- Can you tell us about your memories of your time at school?
First three years third in A stream plus Junior Victor Ludorum and under 15 rugby team. I caved in with academic studies at the age of 14 after the death of my father who was my mentor and disciplinarian. My sporting successes continued winning the Senior Victor Ludorum and first 15 rugby. Sadly wellbeing and teacher pupil relationships were virtually non existent. School discipline was harsh.
2. If not answered above, what is your fondest memory from school?
My Junior and Senior Ludorum successes and scoring many tries for House and school.
3. How did your time at school influence your life and career?
Looking back I am proud to have attended LGS although at the time it was quite tough. At one successful interview for Head of Remedial Department at a Lichfield Secondary School I think LGS took some of the credit. In the 1960s it was usual to request an informal viewing of the school and I turned up in the late afternoon for a chat with the head. I was wearing a black cord jacket and grey trousers plus a beard and shoulder length hair. The head was in a formal suit plus an academic gown and, of course, short back and sides. He looked at me with a measure of disdain and the informal meeting was going really badly until he asked me which school I had attended. I told him LGS and his whole demeanour changed instantly, saying, “A very fine school”. Then I told him about my sporting triumphs by which time he was positively drooling. At the formal interviews a couple of weeks later I was given the job. Thanks LGS !!
4. What do you wish you had known when you were in Sixth Form?
I wish I had been aware of the importance of academic achievements and how they can ease the path towards your chosen employment. Fortunately my passion, hard work and determination enabled me to achieve my goal.
5. How would you describe school in three words?
Intimidating, pedagogic, authoritarian. (I suspect hugely different from today.)
Alumni Career Wisdom
- What led you to choose your career path?
I made my decision in my final year at Junior School. My class teacher was Leonard (Pop) Sealey who was charismatic, tough, inspirational. Strict but fair. He was probably my first hero. He once asked everyone in the class what they would like to do in adult life. What else could I say but be a teacher. I was later encouraged, whilst doing an engineering apprenticeship by a lovely man who understood that I really wanted to be a teacher, to apply for Teacher Training College which began in September 1959.
2. Could you provide an outline of your job role?
After teaching in five schools I became a headteacher from 1973 to 1995. I was in charge of a new purpose built school for 135 children with special needs, 15 teachers and 20 auxiliary staff plus a team of 12 outreach teachers working in primary schools. I wanted to be different as a head and tried to run the school as democratically as possible with pupils, parents and all staff being involved where appropriate. I always retained a teaching role as well as taking on increasing amounts of red tape mainly attributable to the National Curriculum and Ofsted. Every pupil came to us from primary and secondary schools as failures. Through a policy of tough love our aim was to enable each one to leave school and go to work. This was achieved by manipulating the curriculum to do just that – literacy, numeracy, how to manage personal finances, clean a home, road safety plus many more skills for adult life. In their final year each pupil did three different one week work experiences – factories, offices, shops, kitchens etc. I believe that some educators are now advocating what we did 50 years ago. I visited my school about year ago and it is like a fortress with high fences and three locked doors to gain entry plus the wearing of a lanyard with your photograph and details. The classrooms were clinically bleak whereas we always had pupils’ art work, poems and stories on display throughout. Part of my role was to “sell” the school to parents and ,once admitted, to visit parents homes to encourage their involvement. I’m not sure that I would want to run such a school in the present climate with its risk assessments, health and safety, locked doors etc. We kept our pupils safe and interested by common sense and total commitment.
3. What are your career highlights?
Getting 90% of our “failed” pupils to go to work and lead successful adult lives. Achieving a headship against all the odds. I still see several former pupils thirty years later.
4. What’s one piece of advise you would give to current pupils thinking about entering a similar role to yourself?
Research very carefully what teaching is like in the 21st century and whether it chimes with your philosophy and aspirations .
5. What job search tips would you give to pupils looking for a career in your industry?
In this high tech world things are so different to my experience but, whatever you do, do it with passion and a determination to help young people too become exemplary members of adult society.
6. What are the key skills you need for your job role/to work in your industry?
I can only speak from my experience of many years ago but certain attributes are vital. Passion, hard work, fairness, the ability to listen to pupils’ problems and to offer good advice, to teach in a well disciplined and inspirational way, to recognise that they are all individuals and to give them self belief, to encourage honesty, good behaviour and high moral standards. In other words, do as I do not as I say, otherwise the kids will see through you.
Final notes
- What ambitions would you still like to realise?
At 85 years of age my ambitions are minimal. Just to keep treating people, nature and the environment in as kindly a way as possible which I have tried to do since primary school.
2. Do you have any advice for current pupils/graduates who don’t know what to career path to follow?
Listen carefully, observe and ask pertinent questions of people already in careers which excite and interest you.
3. Do you have any hobbies that keep you busy in your spare time?
My successful second job as trombonist and leader of a semi pro traditional jazz band sadly ended over twenty years ago to be replaced by travel, mostly by car, DIY, gardening, Qigong, reading and for the last ten years writing my memoirs which have just been published. “Ooh Yer Bugger !” comprises 300 pages of a life of teaching, jazz music, adventures, tragedies, rebellion and poverty – all written with absolute honesty. The book is dedicated to my two wonderful wives, Joan and Lin, both of whom left me in despair after their awful deaths from a brain haemorrhage and Alzheimer’s respectively.
