Surrey Homes | SH74 | March 2021 | Interiors supplement inside

Education
We were right
to entrust The
New Beacon
with these
important years
in our child’s
education.
Why did you choose a career in
teaching? It is more a question of
teaching choosing me! My father was in
the navy in WWII and it was a career
which attracted me but, being short
sighted and limited in scientific brain
cells, that opportunity was not open.
PARENT After A 2018 Levels I worked as a gap year
student in a school while I pondered my
future. I realised teaching was the career
for me and have never looked back.
What was your favourite subject
at school? I must confess to not
having been the most ardent student
– which I have come to realise may
have given me a genuine empathy
with children who find academic work
less appealing! It has to be English
(which was eventually) my degree
coupled with drama and theatre.
Can you tell us about an
inspirational teacher from
your school days? Without
doubt it was Mr. Smithers, my
maths teacher. No-one else could
have got me an A Level! He was a
great communicator, had time for
everyone and was, above all, kind.
“
Meet the Head
We chat to Mike Piercy, Headmaster of
The New Beacon boys’ school in Sevenoaks
Have your own school days
influenced the way you approach
your role as headteacher? We
all remember certain teachers who were
powerful, formative influences in our
lives. I remember Mr. Smithers for the
reasons already given; my history teacher
for his passion and story-telling; my music
teacher for his patience; my Headmaster
for his wisdom. Yes, they and therefore my
schooldays have influenced me as a Head.
What’s been your proudest
achievement so far? Gosh – I’m
not sure I could highlight one single
achievement. A collective achievement
however might be helping those many,
many children over the years who struggled
with reading, writing, learning, complying,
or simply being in school, to overcome
their challenges and emerge stronger.
How are you dealing with the
challenges that Coronavirus has
thrown at you so far?
On a day by day basis! We have been
most conscious of community – above
all, our boys’ wellbeing – and have
tried to adapt where needed. A recent
example: we have ‘moved’ the last week
of the Spring Term onto the first week
of the Summer Term – to cut short the
challenges of home learning through dark
winter days hoping for lighter, brighter
days ahead in April when we feel more
children are likely to be back in school.
If you could teach anyone – either
present day or from history
– who would you choose? An
interesting concept: choosing someone
whose future one might have shaped
in some way or simply knowing that
person in childhood? Drawing on some
New Beacon history it would have
been fascinating to know the young
Siegfried Sassoon and his two brothers,
Hamo and the lesser known Michael.
What do you think makes New
Beacon special? It was a joy to have
a full school last autumn. Life, energy,
noise and laughter returned. Yet many
visitors comment on our calm, measured
learning environment. I think we effectively
accomplish that balance of achievement
and purpose alongside a happy, caring
ethos where kindness abounds – we all
perform better when we are happy!
newbeacon.org.uk
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