Abingdon School

The staff recruitment season is at its height and at Abingdon several positions (around 14 at the last count) are up for grabs, the consequence of retirements, promotions, meeting demand for popularity of subjects and the number of boys wanting to come to Abingdon. Something different though, met Richard and Smita from recruitment consultants CfA who are helping with a senior post. Appointing staff has become particularly complex, with some posts requiring specialist input beyond the school gate if we are to secure the best from a wide market. No shortage of interest in jobs at Abingdon, though, and that’s very heartening indeed.

Back on deck following half term break. En route to NZ through Heathrow had met David Wickes, Rob Southwell-Sander and Damian Shirazi and a group of 4th Year boys off to play cricket in South Africa. Even our departure gates were separated only by glass partitions so they must have felt I was haunting them. On the flight via Hong Kong, I met the sister of one of our boys and on the way back an actor working in Hollywood who numbered 2 OAs amongst his friends. Abingdon’s tentacles certainly spread out across the world. We had 8 expeditions out, including dog sledging in Sweden, and trips to Germany and France. Spare a thought though for the community of Alvechurch, the loss of a favourite teacher and injured pupils who, returning from skiing in Italy, found themselves involved in a horrifying road accident. Simply dreadful.

Awake to a winter wonderland. Second Master had been out and about in the early darkness to check out routes into and around School. Paths have been cleared through the snow and salt scattered. It’s business as usual at Abingdon. On the drive, I come across Douglas Aitken, a touch sleep deprived, but not at all out of sorts. He and James Hallinan had been out and about after midnight, tracking the footsteps of L6 boarders unable to resist the magic of snow in England, despite the late hour. And there they were, happily playing in the snow, and might still be out there had they not been gathered up.

It’s half term; we are half way through the academic year. The boys are out of one uniform and into another (jeans etc.) and there is a spring in everyone’s step, if not in the weather.

Got to assembly early, have at last adjusted to the new time assembly starts – only to discover I have the wrong file. How annoying! Have brought the sort of documents, in a clear plastic folder, that journalists like to film hapless Ministers carrying along Downing Street, or leave languishing on the back seat of a car. Head of School Matt Landells is very sympathetic. Hasty retreat to collect correct file with cross country, squash and badminton results. I am now running late – get back to note Third Years dawdling along (they really do have all day…) but I am grateful rather than impatient. Just get there in time…

I notice that six or so shops are empty in the Abingdon mall but the area is awaiting development. Poundland is going strong and I come across several boys silently contemplating the biscuit section. I’m there to pick up Kitkats, a treat for the Senior Leadership Team. Was able to advise the boys that a packet of biscuits for £1 might be picked up across the mall at the Co-op for less – shopping around has become a national pastime. KitKats, of the chunky variety, can be picked up at 4 for £1, which is good value, as I’m sure all devotees of KitKats might agree. On the way out a woman who must have overhead the conversation commented that you can’t start too early encouraging the young to learn how to manage a budget.

And so to an exquisite evening. The Chilingirian Quartet, one of the world’s most celebrated ensembles, is giving a concert to a large audience from Abingdon and Oxford. The sound is magical, Haydn, Shostakovich and Ravel. That afternoon they’d given a workshop to the boys and later commented how well the boys had done, and how polite and easy to work with – Michael Stinton had taken me backstage to meet them, a very happy perk of the job!

It’s the final meeting of this School Council and the theme seems to be “How can we have more power?” The Lower School rep George Jeffreys puts the case for a change of policy on mobiles – we discuss whether getting the answer you want is power, or is Council about dialogue and consultation? More has been achieved in its first year than members might think. Special thanks to retiring U6 reps Wills Hewstone, Hollier and Nott, Toby Blong and Joe Hogan. Elections take place after half term for the next School Council. Tomorrow’s leaders start crafting their skills at school so I’m hoping lots of boys will stand.

Am delighted to find myself back at the Dragon School, as guest preacher at Chapel. It all runs just as it did when, some years ago, I too was a Dragon parent. Such memories… The singing is as good as ever, and they had learnt the hymn “One more step along the way” I’d requested to tie in with what I’m saying. The boys in Gunga Din sing with quite some power behind the parents. Monica, Victoria and Annabelle each read sections of the poem I’d chosen, with great confidence and expression. A very young Cameron delivers my “Indian Prayer” standing on a stool to bring him to the top of the lectern. Outside is a blanket of snow and we are cozy inside. Prep Schools are so good at the routine and significance of the rhythm of school life.

Afterwards popped into the Jericho Café for brunch; this early morning Sunday effort has created an appetite – and there is one of our recently appointed teachers (no names, they too are entitled to time away from the great place) doing her lower-sixth marking. I can see, although it would be unfair to look too closely… that she’s very diligent, ticks and comments as she goes. Had only just been reading about the paucity of meaningful marking, and indeed support generally, at some of our universities. When I ask teachers hoping to teach at Abingdon what they least like about teaching, the answer, so often, is marking. I’m never sure if there’s a right answer to this question, of course marking is relentless, but it’s a way of communicating with each student and they deserve a comprehensive process. After all, they’d have spent hours (on the whole) producing the piece of work and for them the process is fresh.

Off to said boathouse for the annual tea party for new parents. Second Master has kindly produced a Google map and marked out the route as I’m driving. You may wonder, is it possible to get lost between the School and the Thames? Well, yes, if you’re the Head, much easier to go on hoof. Director of Rowing Athol Hundermark has long promised me a ride in the launch. To be picked up at St Helen’s Church and taken down the river would be a good scheme. I must hold him to this promise; he’s off to Shrewsbury in September, having been encouraged by my predecessor. But he leaves a great going concern and the FASBC in tremendously good heart with 150 boys rowing this year and masses of parents (willing to bake cakes too) enjoying the boathouse. Neville Brampton (Chairman) and Hugh Price (i/c 3rd Year rowing) speak before me. I’m given a tea towel: “The Bluffer’s Guide to Rowing” and very useful it is too. I discover that a “Frig Rig” is an alternative to conventional rigging patterns. Which reminds me, I promised I’d purchase a stock for presents for visitors. Maybe I should send one up with Athol to Mark Turner?

And more dining… this time at Mercers’ Hall, London. The occasion, a dinner to welcome and thank the many Heads, Chairmen of Governors, Bursars and others representing schools associated with the Mercers. The family of schools include independent schools, academies, primary schools and it’s a large family. I’m seated at top table, because I’m one of the new kids on the block, between two eminent Mercers. I’m asked how “that glorious boathouse” has shaped up. Clearly well, judging by the success and popularity of rowing at Abingdon.

En route to London, the text came through, the rugby score (Daily Mail Cup Quarterfinal) 17:17… surely they played on? But no, we’re on home territory and therefore concede to Dulwich who certainly deserve to go through – tough competition all round and our 1st XV have done brilliantly throughout the competition. Well done to the team.

This week is shaping up to be a bit of a dining week. Tonight I’m Owen Darbishire’s (School Governor) guest at Pembroke College, Oxford. It’s good to see the splendid refurbished Hall which probably looks much as it always has, such is the care taken to preserve all that history, but I’m told it is more efficient and definitely of this century. The link between Pembroke and Abingdon goes back a long time. Pembroke College was founded in 1624 with a bequest of £5,000 from Thomas Tesdale, an OA. The money was intended to endow scholarships for Abingdon boys at Oxford University. For more than 200 years Abingdon had the right to seven scholarships and seven fellowships at the College. The number was gradually reduced and the last Abingdon Scholar at Pembroke probably went into residence in about 1971. The seven Masters of Pembroke between 1709 and 1843 were all OAs – so quite a lot of history in common.

Have been wondering how we managed in the age before email (which I’m told is now an out-of-date means of communication) judging by the volume of emails which wing their way through the ether to our in-boxes 24 hours a day! Did we all work at a slower pace way back then? Were we more disciplined in prioritising the order we got things done? Were our responses more considered? Probably. Think of the time it took to draft, re-draft, create and then post a letter. This still goes on, but is a rare beast and even then is more likely to go via the ether. Was recently accidentally copied into something which clearly wasn’t intended to come my way, as interesting as the suggestion might be… Oh, the danger of pressing Send!

For those who followed the various sagas of squirrels in lofts and pigeons in chimneys in my blog last year, both are back one way or another to plague me. Others may have occasional visitations but I seem to attract more than my fair share of these creatures dropping by unannounced!