Michael Hall 2016 Winter Alumni Newsletter Dear Old Scholars and Alumni, Waldorf 100: Welcome to our Winter Newsletter. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Midsummer Festival in Learn To Change The World June: this year there were no fewer than four reunions. Each was a great success, and we look forward to receiving insider reports from them. What is this? Unfortunately the day was marred by bad weather, Waldorf 100 is a global project, initiated by several as just before the Pageant the heavens truly teacher colleagues from the Bund der Freien opened. The Lower School classes were all dressed Waldorfschulen. It aims to celebrate 100 years of and ready to start, but the performance had to be Steiner Waldorf education in 2019, culminating in a cancelled. The evening play, The Fan by Carlo grand Festival. The project on the one hand has the Goldoni, had to be moved into the theatre; however, serious question at its heart of how to reinvigorate the rain had stopped by the end of the play, so the our education after 100 years so that it will thrive in St John’s Fire went ahead as planned -- though the the future, and on the other promises to be fun, site of the fire had to be moved nearer to the enjoyable, creative and social on a local, national Mansion as the far end of the valley field was and global level. flooded. But one thing was certain: everyone made Timeline the most of the day. March 2016 - September 2019. The cricket match on the Sunday was again a great The steering group has laid out a timeline of three success and this time the weather did co-operate. A years’ work and activities that all Waldorf schools report of the match is given on page 6. are invited and encouraged to participate in. We are still updating our Alumni database, so as Work and ideas for the coming 40 months many of you as possible can receive this newsletter online. If you hear that any of your class members • Involvement of alumni (locally, nationally, have not received the newsletter, please ask them to worldwide) let us know. Contact details are given on page 28. • Connecting with other schools Our 90th year commemorative History of Michael • 100 Faces: a project which involves finding Hall, A Good School, has been reduced in price interesting pupils from 1919-2019, and collating from £20 to £15 and can be purchased from the an album with their portraits and stories school Reception. It will also be on sale at the Advent Fair on November 26th. What does it mean for Michael Hall? We are continuing to feature biographies of Alumni At Michael Hall we are going to be addressing the of all ages, so please let us know if you have an question: “Who are today’s children and what do interesting tale to tell. We are also including pieces they need?” through collective study as well as on retired teachers in this same section. continuing our focus on individual children’s needs in Child Study; we are also: • looking into introducing the practical study of Included in this issue: bees in order to foster a connection with these extraordinary and imperilled creatures; • Steiner Waldorf Education turns 100 in 2019 • exploring current educational trends, • Management changes at Michael Hall • involving our alumni, • Review of Midsummer Events: plays, reunions, • connecting with other schools, talks and the Alumni cricket match • engaging in artistic projects, • School News- plays, talks, recent and upcoming events including the Advent Fair • working towards sustainability and • Goodbye to teachers and news of past teachers • very probably working with other UK Waldorf schools towards a celebratory festival in 2019. • Alumni news-- class of 2016, congratulations, updates on Alumni ventures • Alumni Profiles Virginia Westlake, UK co-ordinating team, October 2016 • Upcoming reunions in June 2017 • Appreciations of Alumni who have died !2 Co-ordinator post will be an internal appointment and in A management structure the coming few weeks we will be advertising this post internally and any member of staff can apply. An for the 21st century interview panel will subsequently appoint the best candidate. The essence of this role will be to maintain and improve the quality of teaching for early years and Michael Hall has seen and successfully steered its the school years, ensure the delivery and development way through a long series of changes, both internal of the curriculum and support and develop the teaching and external, over the nine decades it has operated faculties. as the UK’s leading Steiner Waldorf school. But the The Chair of Management role is also a new role and will speed at which the educational and financial be an external appointment. It is desirable that this environments have evolved since the turn of the appointment is filled by someone - either a parent or millennium has meant that management structures independent - who already has a connection either which performed effectively against the backdrop of th current or past to the School. The purpose of this new the 20 century are struggling to cope with the role is to bring stakeholder views to bear in the demands of the new century. management decision making of the School - primarily So, after much deliberation, the school has decided the needs and interests of parents. This appointment to embark on the implementation of a fresh vision of will be advertised and a panel will appoint the best how the Michael Hall should be led, managed and candidate. operated. While each of these three roles have differentiated This is how Andrew Scott, Chair of the Michael Hall responsibilities, the three will have equal authority. Council, explained the changes to parents: The first task of GMT when appointed will be to July 22nd. establish objectives, associated performance indicators To All Parents from Council and markers of quality, and intended results for the interim period and to consult on these with staff At the start of the new school year, or very soon after, colleagues and have them approved by Council. new interim management arrangements will be in place. It is rare for Council to make a direct intervention like This is an important development and we feel the need this. Custom and practice has been that management to keep you informed. arrangements and appointments have been The College of Teachers and all teaching and non- recommended by the College of Teachers and approved teaching staff were consulted on the key features of the by Council. However, not only Council, but the whole arrangements in June and these were approved by School community including parents, feel this to be a Council on 6 July. seminal moment for the School. By way of background, Council is the Board of Michael Many of you are involved in the Theory U initiative being Hall School Ltd. and we delegate our executive powers carried by Liz Attwell - an Upper School teacher, Davina and duties to the teachers and non-teaching staff within Skinner and my fellow Council member Mark Westoll. the School. As a governing body, it is our responsibility Through this initiative the whole School community are to ensure effective leadership and management. in dialogue to bring forward a fresh identity and direction for the School through sensing collectively what the Our number one concern this year has been future is calling for. The new management arrangements management effectiveness. This has not been a are an interim measure to give the breathing space for concern about the management colleagues who have this initiative to flourish. been carrying management responsibility, rather how responsibilities and authority are arranged - the make- A concern raised by some parents and teachers is that up of each management role and how they work establishing this level of management grip will impair the together as a collective and coherent whole. undoubted creativity and innovation of teachers that is the hallmark of Waldorf education and what makes the For this reason, the current School Management Team education so compelling. (SMT) form will be replaced by a new General Management Team (GMT) form. There will be three roles Organisations are made up of people, and it is the within the GMT: commitments that people make (to carry out certain actions) that make organisations tick. Our intention as a • Education Co-ordinator Council is to establish clearer, more open and • Resources Manager, and transparent networks of commitments. We see this development as necessary for creativity and innovation • Chair of Management to find its full expression. Davina Skinner will continue as the Resources Manager. One other management initiative is worth sharing at this The job description for this role will be varied, but remain time. a similar substantive post in the new team. In recent months, teachers have expressed their The Education Co-ordinator role is a new role and will concern that when there are parent complaints or staff be held separately from Chair of College. The Education grievances in particular, the School's management and !3 governance does not provide sufficient and effective Since the date of Andrew’s letter, one of the support. remaining appointments to the General There are a number of initiatives in hand - not least the Management Team has been made. new management arrangements designed in part to “We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Jane address these concerns. And, it is worth mentioning Morris-Brown as Education Co-ordinator and wish another one here, as it will impact on parents. In the her well in the role,” announced Andrew Scott, autumn, a senior advisor from the Advisory, Conciliation adding that Andrew Ivan, who was initially and Arbitration Service (ACAS) will be working with all appointed to the Chair of Management role, had teaching and non-teaching staff, including managers, on resigned both from this position and as a Trustee.