Issue 15, 2015 The Gossip Bowl The Alumni Magazine PRIOR PARK ALUMNI A Community for Life President’s Letter From The Headmaster IN THIS ISSUE: My predecessor as PPA President, Tony Bury (1970), set himself three objectives: rejuvenate the PPA community; make the PPA more relevant to the life 2 President’s Letter What makes a of the school; and support the school financially. He achieved great success on all three fronts. I, too, Good 3 From The Headmaster have started my presidency with three objectives: increase participation in PPA activities; clarify the 4 - 5 School News mission of the PPA; and make the PPA more fit for purpose. These tasks continue the work that Tony and School? his predecessors have undertaken in recent years. In 6 Prior Park Alumni Update TERRY ILOTT spirit, they also dovetail with the vision for the College Class of 1968 that was articulated recently in the Foundation’s 2020 7 Development Report Vision document. In our ultra-competitive world we can be mistaken in thinking that a The first of my priorities, increasing participation, is addressed more fully on page place amongst the ‘elite schools’ can only be achieved by a high listing 8 - 9 Alumni Day 2015 six. What of the other two? Well, it seems obvious to me that, in the era of social media, the PPA has to do more than provide opportunities for social get-togethers. in the annual league tables. There is more to it than that. 10 From The Archive The PPA committee is working to redefine the PPA’s purpose and objectives. In a similar vein, we are striving to make the PPA more fit for purpose by re-jigging Whilst I respect schools that aim high academically – Such a vision enables every student to share in the life of the the work of committee members and investigating how we might transfer part of we certainly do at Prior Park – the flawed league tables need school and to genuinely support the head and the staff in 11 Rosemary Adamson Interview the responsibility for the PPA from the committee to the year reps. The real action to be read with a healthy scepticism. achieving higher goals. Along with this vision the school must of the PPA, after all, is to be found among the year groups. have a clear ethos, which needs to be articulated by everyone A few years’ ago a close colleague of mine left a school that Headmaster’s Academic involved in the institution. And it needs a set of values that staff 12 - 13 I am inspired, too, by Tony’s quest to make the PPA more relevant to current students. was highly placed in the tables to go to an even higher-ranked Society and students believe in and hold to be important. Alumni already contribute significantly to careers events and such at the school. school, in the belief that the education there must be more 14 Joe Ball: An Actor Prepares I would like to go further, so that students join the PPA on entering the school, not enlightened. He was disappointed to discover that his new Standards, vision, ethos and values are the permanent anchors on leaving. That, I think, would make a big difference, dispelling the PPA’s image as school was so obsessed with its league position that all in students’ lives, not just when they are at school but long Vince Mehers: Working in a refuge for old duffers like me. We will keep you informed of our progress. originality had long disappeared from the curriculum – and after they have left. 14 Africa even worse, the teaching. Students learned by rote. It was as Our ethos is to care for our students so that they feel empowered if the school was maintaining its position through fear. to develop their talents in many different directions. We also 15 Weddings Terry Ilott Another misconception is that excellent facilities make a want our students to be rooted in the Christian values of Prior Park Alumni President good school. Facilities are important of course and we are consideration, compassion, kindness, service, contribution 16 Reunions 2014-2015 fortunate here at Prior Park to have world heritage buildings to others and openness to God. On these they can build their alongside exciting new resources such as the Bury Sports lives. They will be their inspiration in good times and comfort 17 Veterans’ Lunch Centre and the Art Faculty. However this is not an infallible sign in bad. of a good school. Sometimes schools exhaust themselves by Working Prior Park Alumni I also believe passionately in a school that encourages its permanently raising funds in order to keep up with competitors. 18 - 19 Alumni Sports students to trust in themselves and to be bold enough to Alumni Weddings Sports This arms race, well-recognised in educational circles, was embrace change, even to make it their friend. If values are the inevitable consequence of the “parent power” revolution. Page 11 Page 15 Page 18 - 19 the anchor, then the skills and confidence to be flexible and 20 - 25 All The Gossip I have visited schools with jaw-dropping facilities and yet I adaptable are the sails, using the surrounding winds to steer have found some of these to be soulless places. By contrast, I through the great changes, personal and professional, in life. have visited inner-city schools with very limited facilities that 25 Gap Year Report have been beacons of inspiration. By encouraging and inspiring young minds, teachers have a privileged role to play. Here at Prior it is often noted that the So what does make for a good school? Such a school must 26 - 27 Obituaries staff show the same level of respect to the students as the strive for the highest standards in everything it does: from the students do to them. Thus, people contribute to a good school manner of the staff, both teaching and non-teaching, to the in far more profound ways than league tables and buildings. 28 - 29 Calendar 2015/2016 presentation of the students. Such standards breed pride in the school and develop within the student an inner discipline 28 - 29 Prior Park Alumni Committee and respect which they will take with them through life. James Murphy-O’Connor A good school must have a clear vision, in terms of what is Prior Park College Headmaster 30 Year Group Representatives important now and what the school aspires to be in the future. 2 www.priorparkalumni.com The Gossip Bowl 3 School News The Paragon The Foundation It has been a hugely productive, busy and rewarding year, This year our wonderful art teacher, Alex Hucks, as part of our Proof of the buoyant good health of the Foundation is The following year the school will expand to include Years writes Paragon headmaster Andrew Harvey. wider drive to raise awareness of other cultures, introduced the addition of Prior Park Gibraltar. A programme of Eleven and Twelve, with full senior-school provision in students to artists from China, India and Australia, as well In sport, all teams have enjoyed success against local and refurbishment is underway to see the school, housed in September 2018. Mr Peter Watts, currently Deputy as African textiles and Inuit art. The drama productions this national opposition and many teams have returned with the former Sacred Heart campus in Old Town, open for Headmaster of Sherborne School, has been appointed year have been colourful, creative and very funny, from the silverware. Years Eight to Ten in September 2016. Headmaster. Nativity Play and Year Three’s A-Z of Mexico at The Egg Music has gone from strength to strength. Watching pupils, Theatre, through to Year Four’s Pirates of the Curry Bean from our youngest in Reception to our eldest in Year Six, and Years Five’s and Six’s Cinderella Rockefella. The Parent perform in front of an audience with such confidence is always Teacher Association has been very active, from meticulous humbling. Highlights include our samba band opening the organisation of the May Fayre, through to The Paragon Party The College Widcombe Street Party; Sing Out!, bringing Christmas cheer and Quiz Night. This year, the PTA has raised an incredible College continues to prosper, with the new student roll to have a thriving sporting life and great emphasis is placed on to The Orangery Care Home; and various groups achieving £7,900 for our chosen charity, The Lewis Moody Foundation, (2015/16) expected to stand at about 600, of which 175 the local community, with students engaged with other local success at the Midsomer Festival. and £3,500 for the school. – 180 will be boarders. The Bury Sports Centre, which has schools, community centres and care homes. opened up new horizons for sport and fitness, has freed up The principal job of the Foundation, as set out in the three space in the old gym, which is now available for multiple use. headmasters’ recently published Vision 2020, is to foster The new Arts Faculty in St Peters has similarly allowed for the development of individuals capable of “showing a new, much larger Sixth Form centre to be created in the compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness, basement of the Mansion. At the same time, Arundell House understanding and love”, “faithful friends” with a strong is moving into bigger premises. A forthcoming space audit sense of service, able to “develop and express their opinions might allow further improvement in facilities and a small and take an active role”, guided by “firm beliefs and a sense increase in student numbers.