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HEADMASTER'S LETTER
Very often during the year friends and supporters of the School
ask me: “How is the school, Headmaster?” It is always a
difficult question to answer because there are a variety of tests
to apply. Do they mean how many pupils are there in the
School; whether the 1st XV is winning; or the Art, Music and
Drama are flourishing; or how good were the academic results
in the Summer? I usually hesitate. The ultimate test in my
view is whether a school nurtures each individual pupil and is
able to release the talents and potential of that particular
individual during their time at King’s. How do you measure
that? How do you measure if he or she has developed selfesteem
or integrity? How can you measure spiritual
development, kindness and sensitivity? The hallmark of an
excellent, all round education is to nurture young boys and
girls from 13 to 18. That process is not a science. It is a creative
experience which makes this Headmaster hesitate before
answering such a well-wisher’s question.
This year we have been able to deflect the question by offering the
report that was produced after King’s was inspected by the
Independent Schools Inspectorate in October. Every six or seven
years, an independent HMC School will be inspected by ISI. Ten
inspectors duly arrived at King’s on 20 October, six years to the
day since the last inspection. All the King’s pupils were new to an
inspection and so were 10 of the 19 Heads of Department, and
over 50% of the staff. For four days the teaching and learning in
each of the academic departments and a very broad range of
school issues ranging from boarding to behaviour, ethos to extra
curricular activities, came under the microscope. Present parents
are canvassed in advance via a questionnaire for their opinions
about the School, and the inspectors are sent a mountain of
information before their arrival, ranging from set sizes, academic
results and other number crunching data to policy statements,
minutes of meetings, departmental schemes or work, and job
descriptions. A lot of work by the Senior Management, Heads of
Department and Housemasters and Housemistresses goes into
preparing and updating that documentation. The teaching staff
are vigorously inspected when teaching and fulfilling their
pastoral and extra curricular duties. The pupils themselves are
the centre of the inspection. They are interviewed singly and in
groups. Their written work is carefully analysed and the progress
of their learning observed in and out of lessons. It is an
interesting experience for a Headmaster to see 10 inspectors -
under significant time pressure to collect and evaluate evidence
for their reports - invading the School.
I should like to take the liberty to highlight from the report two of
the strengths of King’s which the Inspectors outlined and would
provide an answer to that question, “How is King’s, Headmaster?”
They thought that our pastoral care at King’s was excellent. We
have had much recent movement among the Houses. With the
retirement of Terry Johnson, Rob Lowry has moved up to Lyon
from Priory House after six successful years on the High Street.
Ann Crowcombe has moved over from Arion to Priory on its
conversion to a girls’ House. Rose Vigers has taken over as House
Parent of Arion House for 6th Form boys. James Shone has come
from Kenya to become Housemaster of New House after Jim
Roebuck’s reign of six years. Housemasters, Housemistresses and
tutors give of their time and care beyond the call of duty. They
nurture their charges with sensitivity and consideration.
Inspectors were very impressed with the way those in loco
parentis were carrying out their responsibilities.
In the view of the Inspectors, another major strength of King’s
was the personal and social development that our pupils enjoy
THE SCHOOL
during their time at the School. Again, this is very satisfying to
know that the opportunities beyond the classroom in terms of
physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual development, are a
particular strength. The Inspectors will have appreciated the
making of this judgement with the explosion of music at King’s in
the last three years. Over 170 pupils now take individual music
lessons per week. There is a plethora of music making ranging
from the orchestra and military band, to jazz band, show band,
flute, string and brass combinations. The military band marches
annually around Bruton on Remembrance Day, and it is going on
a tour to Belgium in the Summer.
Drama has grown in the number of productions we enjoy at
King’s. Last year we had twelve to enjoy and a group of our pupils
took one production to the Edinburgh Festival. Seven productions
have been offered this Easter Term and the School’s aim is to
encourage all pupils during their time at King’s to participate in a
School drama production.
Central to the School must be the academic work and we were
again delighted with our A level results, with an excellent A/B
pass rate of 53% and 42% A’s and A* at GCSE. Again, the
Inspectors were very complimentary about our teaching and
learning. Some outstanding teaching was observed, and the ICT
provision, which contributed significantly to the standard of
teaching and learning, was named as another strength. Further
academic improvements are in the pipeline. We are delighted, for
instance, that the whole floor above the Dining Hall will be
developed by September into a library/learning centre. A new
staircase from the entrance to the Dining Hall will bring access
into the centre of the School, and the centre will retain the Norton
Library name. It will be an important improvement in developing
the facility for our pupils to undertake individual study and
research so important in academic work.
Such success has not been at the expense of our sport. The 1st XI
cricket had its best season for some years and are enjoying the
benefits of a newly laid square. The 1st XV won six and lost three,
and beat Sherborne for the third time in five years and King’s,
Taunton for the third time in four years. The girls’ hockey teams
won more matches than they lost in the Christmas Term, and
both boys and girls have won representative honours at hockey.
King’s has been blessed with a core of long-serving and loyal staff
in its recent history. They bring continuity and stability to a
school. One of these is Colin Jones who came to King’s in 1975. We
will be saying good-bye to Colin in June when he retires from
King’s as Director of Studies. Mrs Emma Kent moves on after four
years in the Music Department to become Director of Music at
West Buckland School, a promotion richly deserved.
The Headmaster is also moving after eleven years and two terms
to become Headmaster of St Peter’s, York. He thought King’s was
a special school when he came for interview, and he still believes
that to be the case. King’s is a full boarding school, committed to
the highest academic, cultural and sporting standards.
Surrounded by beautiful countryside, it is an exceptional place in
which adolescents can grow.
King’s is also thriving in terms of numbers. For 13 out of the last
20 terms King’s has been above 350 in number, a figure never
previously breached in its history. The A level and GCSE results
this summer were the best the School has ever celebrated. The
extra curricula life of the school is varied. May King’s continue to
flourish. King’s for the first time since the late 1970’s sung the
School song at the beginning of February at the start of the House
singing competition . May I end with my own wish for the School,
taken from the last line of the song: “Floreat Brutonia”.
Richard Smyth March 2004
OLD BRUTONIAN ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER 2004 33