Diary of an NQT
BOARDING SCHOOLS BOARDING SCHOOLS
Rattlesnakes and Diplomas
PART OF the criteria of being allowed to deliver a quick Tube to Heathrow. It was a bit of a surreal
Melvyn Roffe
the new Diplomas (mine being the society, health experience at first as the lecture room was full of
and development qualification) is taking part stuffed animals and the centre piece was a huge stands down
in an external CPD session entitled “Inside the grizzly bear mat that had been seized by customs – I
workplace”. thought it was an added touch but could understand
at the end of
Basically it does what it says on the tin. why others were a bit perturbed.
Part of the challenge of the Diplomas Anyway, the nitty-gritty of the day
is to emulate the work environment involved an insight into how they as
this academic
in the classroom and sessions like a local authority (a branch of City of
these are aimed to get you brimming London) use legislation to enforce laws
year as chairman of
full of ideas and resourced up, concerning animal health and welfare –
not to mention making links with this clearly sits with the criminal justice
the Boarding Schools’
employers for workplace visits. sector unit, but it is not a connection
With the Diploma still in its you would make straight away.
Association. The principal
infancy, my initial attempts to This was taught through a brief
organise this training and to get out overview of the legislation and then
there into said workplace left much applied by using some illustrated
of Wymondham College
to be desired. specific cases, one involving someone
First of all you register on the support called “the golden one” – don’t ask! spoke to Sara Dixon
site, which is very straightforward. Then The other links are with the Diploma
it is onto arranging the day… unit safeguarding and protecting
about boarding schools
Not much is given away. It’s a kind individuals. Lots of the objectives
labyrinth of mysteries as to what the could be interestingly met by taking
training is going to involve, and how learners on an applied tour of the
and the need to be positive
it is specifically going to tie in with site, including understanding the
the Diploma you are delivering and main causes of infection and control,
its relevant units. and the role of risk assessment, so a FTER MEETING Melvyn Roffe,
More boggling is the location very useful relationship with this
– very little is given away! Being in organisation beckons.
London it could be anywhere. You I had great fun and a valuable
just get told the city and venue – that’s experience. I’m not an admirer of zoos and
it. You book on the course, without a clue as to haven’t been to one since I was a kid, but
where you’ll be heading in many cases. my conscience on cages and confinement was A
the single most over-riding
impression he leaves you with is
one of positivity.
Not some cloying kind of
Californian-esque positive-
thinking jargon – his positivity is
I wasn’t spoilt for choice, but the Animal overlooked on this occasion. The rattlesnake of a distinctly calm, composed English variety. He is
Reception Centre sounded good and Google soon impressed me the most… positively positive – about everything he does.
revealed that it was the new name for a quarantine And it is a good job he has got a lot of positive
centre. I could see loose connections to the Diploma, • This year, our weekly NQT diarist is Charles energy because Mr Roffe is a very busy man. If he
but I was not entirely convinced where this type of Aubeeluck, a qualified citizenship teacher who wasn’t so positive it would be doubtful whether he
work was going to sit within its curriculum. teaches sociology and health and social care at could get anything done.
The day came and fortunately for me it was just Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in west London. Mr Roffe is principal of Wymondham College in
Norfolk, which has 620 youngsters boarding in a 1,117-
pupil school.
However, for the past year he has been the chairman
Moral support
of the Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA), which
represents all 550 state and independent boarding
schools in the UK, and has also become involved in a
You are the experts
number of other projects as well.
At the moment, he is overseeing the expansion of
his school (which by the time it is completed, will be
half as big again as it was years ago), he is helping to
On June 17, Teacher Support Network took part ideas that teachers should have every confidence in set up a boarding school in war-torn southern Sudan,
in the House of Commons Children Schools and holding and voicing. Nevertheless, the format for and has until recently been jetting around the world picture of a comprehensive. Simple, square, 1960s
Families Select Committee evidence session on parents’ evening is radically different from all other as chairman of the BSA forging international links for utilitarian-looking blocks make up the bulk of the
allegations against school staff. It was a very useful areas of teachers’ work. The parents themselves often British boarding schools. site.There are no dreaming spires here, even though
opportunity to highlight some of the important issues operate in a very different field from education and That is when he is not working at putting together there is a quadrangle surrounded by the simple
that arise from the growing amount of allegations can have a different perception of the characteristics a plan for independent boarding schools to sell their school blocks.
made against teachers by pupils. of their children, the responsibilities of teachers, and pastoral care expertise to other educational institutions, This boarding school first opened its doors to
Along with representatives from the National the direction of the school. meeting government ministers, and working to set students in 1951. Now it boasts a glowing Ofsted report
Union Teachers, NASUWT, and Falsely Accused During such occasions, it is important to remember up a residential leadership conference to be held at and high-achieving students – the school has an air of
Carers and Teachers (FACT), we spoke with the that parents are probably more intimidated by the Wymondham College. calm happiness to it.
chairman, Barry Sheerman MP, and the rest of the experience than teachers. After all, it is you who are And of course, all this comes on top of running Currently, government has advanced plans to
committee about the length of time accusations the professionals. his school, which is set in 80-acres of flat Norfolk expand the number of state-funded boarding schools
take to be resolved, the “innocent until proven However nervous teachers are, they should try countryside to the south of Norwich. and wants to open three more. Mr Roffe is positive this
guilty” mentality that dominates proceedings, and and maintain the initiative in conversation and focus However, in all of this, what Mr Roffe is most is good news for vulnerable children in our society and
the profound affect that false accusations can have on building confidence over their unique knowledge positive about is children and the positive effect will save many youngsters from going into care and a
on the health and wellbeing of teachers. and guidance. Body language is vital – standing boarding school can have on vulnerable youngsters potentially damaging start to their lives.
We have provided assistance to many up to greet the parents, maintaining eye from disadvantaged backgrounds. In many people’s minds, a boarding school is a place
teachers over the last year who were contact, and sitting up straight. Wymondham College, one of the few state boarding for the financially privileged to send their children, but
experiencing allegations and were Preparation is also important in schools in the country, operates in a sector dominated for Mr Roffe they perform a different function.
therefore able to speak authoritatively coping successfully with parents’ by independent fee-paying schools, overwhelmed by Education at a state boarding school is free – as
on the damage to wellbeing that the evenings. It’s useful for teachers the image of Eton and Tom Brown’s Schooldays. long the child holds a UK passport or is from the EU.
situation can cause teachers. to think not only about what they Built on a former Second World War American Living costs must be paid for. Currently, Wymondham
Taking into consideration the intend to say to parents but also army hospital, Wymondham, however, is the very charges around £7,500 a year, and with some charities
experiences and views of all those how they might say it.
whom we supported, including It can help to have examples
those going through the process of of pupils’ work in mind to help
investigation and those returning to illustrate a point. We came to
work from suspension or stress leave, Westminster armed with real-life
we spent a significant amount of time examples of how false accusations
preparing for the session – running through were affecting teachers, which helped
potential questions and shoring up our us to make our point considerably.
position on the details. Just like elsewhere in our
The session went well and we professions, it’s helpful to make sure
are looking forward to reading the that all positives are mentioned as
committee’s report on the issue. well as the negatives in order to
Nevertheless, despite being able to build a balanced picture.
harness the expertise of our advisors and It’s also worth bearing in mind
policy team, as my first public appearance that it is good to talk to colleagues
as chief executive, I was inevitably nervous about their experiences. Talking
beforehand. My keenness to communicate through what I was going to say with
our message and give the right impression the team at Teacher Support Network
of our work was made even more pronounced proved vital to making sure we got the
by the occasion itself. Sat in the salubrious right message across at Westminster.
surroundings of a beautifully decorated room in As I experienced on June 17, the prospect
the Palace of Westminster in the presence of such of unusual environments and conversations
esteemed company, it really felt like the pressure in your profession can be intimidating, however
was on. confident you are in your area of knowledge.
The pressure I felt before the committee hearing Nevertheless, such nervousness can be overcome by
was similar to that experienced by many teachers, preparing effectively, discussing the situation with
particularly NQTs, ahead of parents’ evening. It’s colleagues, remembering the unique insight that
an issue that repeatedly comes up for many of the your profession gives you, and ensuring this come
thousands who contact us over the course of the over during the meeting.
year.
The nervousness that many feel before the event • Julian Stanley is chief executive of the Teacher
is rarely inspired by a lack of knowledge or expertise. Support Network. Visit www.teachersupport.info or
Parents’ evenings involve conveying information call 08000 562 261 (England), 08000 855088 (Wales).
that only teachers are in a position to understand and Moral Support returns in September.
Positive attitude: Melvyn Roffe is principal of Wymondham College, which is also pictured
8 SecEd • July 2 2009
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