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BespokeBBeespooke uniforms.unifi ormms. &YDMVTJ&YDMVTJvFVOJGPSNTPòFSJOHUIFIJHIFTURVBMJUZJOGBCSJDBOEEFTJHOFVOJGGPPSNT PòFSJOH UIF IJHIFTU RVBMJUZ JO GBCSJD BOE EFTJHO.&BTZPOMJOFP&BTZ POMJOF PrEFSJOHXJUIGEFSJOH XJUI GrFFFF TTFXOJOOBNFUBHTFXOJOOBNF UBHT.''rFFFF rFFUVSOTUVSOT aWWBJMBCMFPOBMMPBJMBCMF PO BMM PrEEFSTFST.*UBMMBEETVQUPUIFQFSGFDUTF*U BMM BEET VQ UP UIF QFSGGFFDU TFrWWJDFJDF. “We areararee delighted, the studentsstudentsents lookedooked absolutely amazingamazin in their new uniformsunnniformsorms ono the first ddadayy back, itt wasw lovely to seee them.”thhem.”m.” The GrangeGGrangangge Our new 6thh formform suitsu range: ttPolywPolywPPMPPM lZDSBGBCSJDTZDSB GBCSJDT t$PMPVSTBOEMJOJOHTDVTUPNJTBCMFUPUIF4DIPPMt$PMPVST BOE MJOJOHT DVTUPNJTBCMF UP UIF 4DIPPM t.JYBOENBUDITLJt.JY BOE NBUDI TLJrUPQUJPOTGPSHJSMTU PQUJPOT GGPPS HJSMT t.BDIJOFXBTIBCMFBOEUVNCMFEt.BDIJOF XBTIBCMF BOE UVNCMF ErZBCMFZBCMF rour parour tner schools includ ...e Aiglon Dame Alice Harpur Kimbolton Portsmouth High The Beacon Alleyn’ss’Alleyn Dunottar King’ss BrutonBruton’King Queen Mary’sMa s’yrQueen The Grange Ashford Durham Laxton Queen Margaret’sMargaret s’ TruroTTrruro Bancroft’ss’Bancroft Farlington Northampton High Rendcomb TruroTTrruro High Berkhamsted HaileyburyyrHaileybu Norwich Roedean Windermere Blackheath Heath Mount Notting Hill & Ealing Ryde Wisbech Grammar Casterton James Allen’sAllen s Girls’Girls’’ Oundle Seaford Wykeham House Christ College, Brecon Kent College Peterborough High Shiplake Telephone 01832 280011 [email protected] www. schoolblazer.com Schoolwear with convenience sew Volume 47 Number 1 Spring 2010 PRODUCED BY THE HEADMASTERS’ & HEADMISTRESSES’ CONFERENCE Contents Editorial 5 Letter to the Editor 7 Conference Diary, Emma Taylor 8 New International Members of HMC 52 Management Ten for 10/10, Geoff Lucas 10 Jumping through the hoop, Damian Ettinger 12 8 In the face of an uncertain future, Mick Brookes 13 Making the most of a management review, Adam Pettitt 15 Riskier recruiting, Chris Ramsey 17 Education, education, education? Bernard Trafford 19 Perception Farewell Sandy, Miles Petheter 20 Forty days and forty nights, Ian Power 23 Keep marketing! Simon Brindle 24 Heads and headlines, Derek Dyson 25 Health Gadarene challenges on Common and Heath, 17 Antony Faccinello & Jenny Stephen 26 Waiting for the barbarians, Stephen Winkley 28 Epidemics in schools: history repeats itself? Nigel Richardson 29 Toughen up in Liverpool, Roger V Mobs 32 Output Not for the faint-hearted, April McGoldrick 33 Tower poets in the city of dreaming spires, Peter McDonald 35 For gifted and talented, James Petrie 36 Back to The Old Century? Hugh Wright 38 What to say to our sixth formers, Tim Hands 40 Into Africa, Gardner Thompson 43 Leavers’ ties, James Priory 45 24 Book review Fame – from the Bronze Age to Britney, William M Duggan 49 Endpiece Gluttony and the senior master, Alistair Macnaughton 54 ‘…all mankind's concern is charity’ (Alexander Pope). See also page 11. 38 Spring 2010 3 STEERING GROUP Spring 2010 STEPHEN COYNE Chairman Editorial Head of Foundation, The King’s School in Macclesfield TOM WHEARE Editor ELIZABETH CAIRNCROSS Welcome to 2010, a year in which we know for certain that there Head, Wells Cathedral School will be a General Election. What we don’t know is which party JAMES PRIORY Head, The Portsmouth Grammar will win or even whether there will be a clear winner. A change School of government would surely be beneficial, if only because the BERNARD TRAFFORD Headmaster, present administration seems exhausted and devoid of forward Royal Grammar School, momentum. There are those who believe that Headships should Newcastle not last for more than ten or 12 years: perhaps the same applies EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS to parties in power. ANDREW GRANT Headmaster, St Alban’s School This comparison brings into focus one of the main political Chairman, HMC problems of the age – the desire of Prime Ministers to perform GEOFF LUCAS as presidents, without being subjected to an appropriate system Secretary, HMC IAN POWER of checks and balances or a pre-agreed term limit. Our Membership Secretary, HMC parliamentary system is, quite properly, in disrepute, not because JONATHAN EVANS of the ‘expenses scandal’, but because it has been ignored by Managing Director, John Catt Educational Ltd successive Prime Ministers and because both Houses appear to Business Managers be emasculated. DEREK BINGHAM The House of Lords has been half torn down, but still stands Publishing Director, John Catt Educational Ltd tottering gently. The dilemma is clear. Create a new Upper House whose representatives have popular credibility and you Publication: Published three times create a legislative assembly that might slow a government down a year, February, June, September. or even bring it to a halt, precisely the function of the United Editorial Board: A steering group of members appointed by States Senate. The currently elected representatives of the people the Headmasters’ & Headmistresses’ Conference. in the House of Commons are less important to ministers than Opinions expressed in Conference the internet or the Daily Mail, a shameful state of affairs, & Common Room are not necessarily those of the Headmasters’ & unlikely to be changed unless there is a hung Parliament or Headmistresses’ Conference; like- something much like it. wise advertisements and editorial are printed in good faith, and their And what has this to do with independent schools? In the past, inclusion does not imply endorsement by the Headmasters’ General Elections were occasions for political activity on the & Headmistresses’ Conference. part of the independent sector. Ginger groups were formed to put No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval candidates on the spot and to agitate for the preservation of the system, or transmitted by any means electronic, mechanical, species. There were even signs that these guerrilla campaigns photocopying, recorded or other- had some effect. Nowadays the effort is more measured and wise, without the prior permission of the Editor and/or the Publishers. more consistent. Subscriptions: Through all vicissitudes the ISC has earned the right to a £25 for a two year subscription, post paid; discounts for bulk orders national voice which now speaks with authority and with an available. Advertising and Subscription enquiries to the increasing level of approval from its constituent bodies. Is there, Business Managers: John Catt Educational Ltd, perhaps, somewhere in ISC headquarters one of those fine 12 Deben Mill Business Centre, wooden boards on which are inscribed the gilded names of those Old Maltings Approach, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1BL. who have led the organisation in the last 35 years? May we learn Tel: (01394) 389850. Fax: (01394) 386893. something from the evolutionary process which took us from E-mail: [email protected]. Arthur Hearnden, the Admirable Crichton of this particular Printed in England by Wyndeham Grange, Butts Rd, Southwick, group, via a political researcher, a lawyer and an admiral, to the West Sussex, BN42 4EJ. ISSN 0265 4458 once and future diplomat, David Lyscom? Editorial address: ISC still has political battles to fight and a General Election Tom Wheare, 63 Chapel Lane, Zeals, Warminster, Wilts BA12 6NP requires all associations with political objectives to throw their Email: [email protected] hat into the ring, or, at least, to be seen to have a hat. At Spring 2010 5 present we are much preoccupied by the Charity Commission, but what we must hope for from the next government is a rapid restoration of economic health and a coherent education policy which will be to the benefit of all citizens. In its turn the independent sector must make good its claims to have a worthwhile role to play in shaping educational policy and practice and in providing opportunities for the disadvantaged. This will require engagement in the debate on the same terms as our opponents or critics. It is true to say that many parents make considerable sacrifices to send their children to independent schools, but it is also true to say that there are many more parents who don’t have anything to sacrifice, with children who would benefit from the chances independent schools offer. The High Master of Manchester Grammar School threw down a gauntlet – only one, he made clear, of a matching pair – to schools as well as to Dame Suzi Leather, when he described the extraordinary efforts that his school makes in and for its community, but the bursary programmes that MGS and other schools are managing are just as remarkable and just as necessary. Widening access is not only a matter for independent schools. Universities are also engaged in this work and, as a society, we have come a long way, through the tortuous paths of political correctness, to a more tolerant and inclusive society. It is in schools that the social virtues must be taught, together with the flexibility now necessary for a working life that is no longer predictable or even stable. Political correctness is not entirely without merit if it reminds employers that they should appoint the best person for the job and not the person who best fits the stereotype. In the same way schools should both bear in mind and proclaim that it is the best, that is, the most widely, educated person who will get the most out of work and leisure, whilst contributing the most to society. We cannot go back to ‘the old century’ of which Hugh