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<strong>Education</strong> Magazine<br />
Meet the Heads<br />
Go behind the scenes at seven leading schools to find out more about the headteachers in charge<br />
Gareth Doodes MA Hons<br />
headmaster of dover college<br />
Favourite subject when<br />
you were at school<br />
i absolutely love history. My<br />
imagination as a child was vivid,<br />
and i had an exceptional teacher<br />
who made history something<br />
interesting and something relevant.<br />
a love of history in itself developed<br />
a fascination with theology and<br />
politics. it demonstrated how<br />
all we learn is so inter-related.<br />
Favourite teacher when<br />
you were at school<br />
Mr polden, my English teacher.<br />
debonair, witty, with a rich irish<br />
brogue, he read poetry to us that<br />
made our ears feel like we were<br />
eating fudge. he made shakespeare<br />
come alive, laughed incessantly,<br />
was eccentric in the right ways and<br />
clearly cared. Quite a character.<br />
Favourite children’s character<br />
from a book or film<br />
it would have to be Mole, from wind in<br />
the willows. he’s modest, humble and<br />
thoughtful. he tries new things, and is<br />
ambitious, yet at the same time doesn’t<br />
forget his own roots. it is the best<br />
character from a perfect book although<br />
ironically, it has greater relevance when<br />
read by adults than by children.<br />
Best school memory<br />
too many to choose from! probably the<br />
day i was appointed head boy at prep<br />
school. nothing has ever surpassed that,<br />
both in terms of the feeling of being<br />
honoured, and also excited. seeing<br />
my parents’ beaming faces that day is<br />
a memory that will never leave me.<br />
Is there anything you wish you had<br />
studied at school that you didn’t?<br />
i would love to have done further study<br />
in theology and philosophy. i love<br />
thinking, and love stretching my mind.<br />
there’s always a place<br />
for that in what we do.<br />
What is your proudest<br />
achievement at your<br />
current school?<br />
our recent isi<br />
inspection, which<br />
turned the school<br />
completely around<br />
from the situation i inherited. there<br />
is nothing better than being tested by<br />
external agencies in what you believe<br />
is right, and found to be without fault.<br />
it’s a magnificent achievement by a<br />
superb team of teachers at the college.<br />
What are you looking forward<br />
to this coming year?<br />
we’re about to embark on an exciting<br />
development plan, with investment<br />
in teaching, learning, buildings and<br />
facilities both for the Junior and the<br />
senior school, and sport. it’s an exciting<br />
time for the college and its pupils.<br />
dover college is an independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-18. dovercollege.org.uk<br />
<br />
23 wealdentimes.co.uk
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