Headmaster’s Speech

SCHOOL NOTES

Headmaster’s Speech at Prizegiving

Perhaps the words I am about to share are not quite as monumentally significant as those of Boris, but I shall take a leaf from his book and keep it brief. So, with the clock running on a 6 minute and 12 second counter, here we go.

Good morning, and welcome to Beaudesert’s Prize Giving 2022. We come together this morning as our final act to mark the end of a wonderful year at Beaudesert, to reflect and celebrate together and to say some fond farewells. It is a time for reflection and for gratitude.

At our Year 8 Revue on Thursday evening, we were once again treated to a video reel of our leaving Year 8 children’s faces now, alongside photographs of when they first came to Beaudesert. Some in the Nursery. This physical change marks a remarkable stage of development in your children’s lives. For every member of staff here at Beaudesert, to be a part of that development is the greatest privilege. These are precious years.

Like Boris, for many of us, this is a time when we are preparing for moving on. Happily, not because we have been pushed, but because we are ready. Even if in many ways there is so much that would keep us firmly drawn to stay.

For our leavers today, their precious years at Beaudesert are coming to an end. But, as my favourite philosopher, Winnie the Pooh, wisely said:

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

Today marks both an ending and a beginning. This is the end of a wonderful year at Beaudesert, full of remarkable achievements.

We have well and truly been back to firing on all cylinders and the engine has been roaring. I shan’t even begin to try to list everything that has happened; the Buzz is awash with it all each and every week. I often find myself reflecting on how lucky I am that I get to see it all. For most in this room, you see a fraction through the window of watching your own children. Just imagine for a moment how that multiplies across all our year groups and all our children.

To pull off another year, rich with so many experiences and opportunities for your children, is the result of a wonderful team of staff who bring a limitless amount of commitment, dedication and passion. And I must say, I suspect that many of you here today really do not know quite how much.

I could not be more grateful to every member of staff here, and the countless who are not with us, for everything they have brought to Beaudesert this year and I ask you to join me now by putting your hands together to thank them all.

In my first Prize Giving speech, I reflected on what I had learned about Beaudesert during my first year. One of my memories at the end of that year was the daily chorus of ‘Thank you, Keith’ as children spilled from Keith Monkman’s minibus. At that time, our Year 8 leavers were coming to the end of Year 5. Earlier this week, one of our Year 8 boys, upon alighting the Monkman minibus for the final time, gave Keith the warmest hug of thanks. Evidence, if evidence were needed, of the warmth and strength of our relationships at Beaudesert. Relationships that grow stronger with time and which will endure long after your children have moved on.

The relationships that children form here, with one another, with their teachers, are the foundation that gives them confidence on which to build.

At our Inset meeting at beginning of this term, all teaching staff shared their thoughts about what makes good learners. The overwhelming consensus settled on one particular word. Curiosity. I have witnessed this curiosity in abundance in classrooms and beyond throughout this year. Instilling a genuine, deep rooted joy of learning is the most important thing our teachers seek to do.

And today is also a beginning for us all, whether looking ahead to a new school year, or a new start altogether.

Parents, think back for a moment to reasons you may have had to visit the Headmaster’s Study when you were at school. I’m sure there are some pale faces as memories come flooding back.

Happily, if I were to ask children at Beaudesert, the vast, vast majority would be thinking about coming to collect certificates or for practice interviews, to share good news, or just to chat in passing. Of course, there are sometimes things that draw children to the Headmaster’s Study other than his dazzling company. I would like to briefly share three with you. All three can teach us lessons, especially for our leaving children as they look forward to new adventures.

Firstly, my Lego Hogwarts. Whatever lies ahead for you, don’t expect the best things to come as complete packages. You will need to work steadily, putting things together piece by piece. And you won’t easily see how things are going to conclude until you have put many pieces together. Through patience, you will get your rewards.

And then there is my Newton’s Cradle, which children can’t resist playing with, watching as the balls swing together in many different patterns. As we know with a Newton’s Cradle, if we drop one ball from one side, one swings out from the other. Likewise, drop two, and two emerge. So it is with life. Simply, you get out what you put in.

Do not be the person to sit back and wait, expecting good things to come to you. Leap in and grasp opportunities, give, share, smile, help others, be brave. If you put your heart into everything, you will see the rewards quickly swinging out for you to enjoy.

And third, of course, is Dougal the dog. What do we learn from Dougal? Well, that there will be ‘whoopsies’ on the carpet. We are all learning every day. None of us have everything cracked. The ‘whoopsies’ will happen along the way, but you will learn. And remember, it is in the moments of difficulty and challenge that you are truly learning, so dive on in. Just remember to have some metaphorical Dettol wipes with you just in case. Today we sadly say goodbye to a number of members of staff, many of whom are not with us today, but some who are, and I would like to take a moment to thank some of our Prep School teachers.

Lizzie Bailey joined us in the Autumn Term of 2020, riding heroically out of retirement at a time when the MFL department was in great need. We immediately knew we had landed a complete natural. Children who have been lucky enough to have been taught by Mrs Bailey have benefitted from her wealth of experience and gentle drive.

We wish Lizzie every happiness as she returns to her retirement.

Emma Holmes came to Beaudesert in 2014, at that time stepping into the Boarding House alongside Jamie, with a 5 year-old Hector and a 2 year-old Oscar. She ran a light and happy boarding ship until stepping out in 2018 when Jamie became Deputy Head.

As well as her immense contributions beyond the classroom, Emma has always been an outstanding class teacher. She has an instinctive approach, spotting children who are facing challenges and giving them great confidence. Her move to join the Learning Support department this year has absolutely played to her strengths and those children in her care have been incredibly lucky.

Emma has always seen her role in school as being part of a big family, so it is perhaps no surprise that in the end it is her own family that draws her away from ours. We know that Emma and her boys will be very happy in Devon, and are lucky that we shall still be seeing plenty of them as they come back to visit friends.

Good luck, Emma, and thank you.

In 1999, PC Stephen Grimsley came to speak at Beaudesert. In a conversation between him and Mr Womersley, it was revealed that a part-time Maths teaching position would shortly become available. PC Grimsley, also happened to be the Uncle of Mrs Susie Jones, who had recently married and was seeking a new role.

The rest, as they say, is history. Susie became a full time Maths teacher shortly after starting. In the 22 years since, Susie has been both a Beaudesert parent, as Evie and Sam grew through Beuadesert, and an outstanding teacher. She even took on the lofty role of managing the school stationery cupboard in 2003!

Some teachers learn how to do it. Susie however, was born to teach. She has the patience and kindness to make Maths feel safe and secure, even for those children who find it most challenging. Susie leaves us to go ‘adventure hunting’ as she describes it, and we wish her fun and happiness along the way.

Having started out as a sheep farmer on Salisbury Plain, and having been a prefect and captain of cricket at his prep school, it was perhaps no surprise that James Standen McDougal turned to teaching in 1993 and he has never looked back. He practised his art at some of the finest schools in the country before, in 2010, coming to the finest prep school as Head of History. Headteachers are often found nowadays, bemoaning the loss of the ‘proper’ prep school teacher, who gives their all and is in the thick of every corner of school life. Never grumbling about the hours, and simply putting the children first. James is that proper prep school teacher. It is only when they leave that you realise you are losing three or four different members of staff. In everything James has done at Beaudesert, it has been with a sense of calm, quiet and huge warmth. He is a

Graduate Assistants

From left to right: Aleksandra Knezevic, James Davies, Kelsey Tucker, Robert Baldwin

great friend to so many and will be greatly missed. Especially as he takes Alex with him on their adventure to Kenya to teach at Pembroke House School.

When Alex and James came to Beaudesert, George was 9, Isobel 8 and Molly 4. In Alex and James’ own words, all ‘thrived under the School’s nurturing umbrella’.

It is this understanding of what helps to make Beaudesert so special, that makes Mrs S-M such a special teacher. As well as being a brilliant English and Drama teacher, always stepping out of the limelight to let it shine more brightly on the children in her care, she has an incredible pastoral touch. All those who have sought her support have found that umbrella waiting, to offer shelter through the stormier days. Having told you that James was prefect, I am sure Alex will be cross if I don’t also share that she was Head Girl! It certainly feels like we are losing our Head Girl.

We shall desperately miss both, but our Beaudesert doors will always remain open. Before we move on to our prizes I would like to share one story with you.

On returning from the Year 8 Leaver’s trip to Cornwall, Mr Bird shared with me his daily routine before heading out for the morning swim. One particular Year 8 boy appeared to be grappling more than others with the challenge of fighting his way into his wetsuit. Each day, 10% in, he would hop over to Mr Bird to beg his help to wriggle in the final 90%. 20 minutes later, after much squiggling and squirming, he would be in, all zipped up, and ready to brave the waters. This repeated for three days. Each day, a combined effort, between boy and Bird, of pushing, pulling and heaving. On the fourth day, the boy was determined to win the fight solo. So taking the techniques he had learned, he set to putting on his wetsuit by himself. After half an hour of relentless battle, he had won and proudly walked up to Mr Bird to show that he had achieved the feat solo. Mr Bird looked him up and down and smiled. Before saying: ‘It’s on inside out.’

Whatever your wetsuit challenge in the future, you will find help, and you will find your own strength, and you will succeed in the end.

We cannot award prizes to all today, but I would like to congratulate every child at Beaudesert for everything they have achieved and contributed to such a wonderful year. Thank you.

I was speaking to Mrs Saunders on Thursday evening, bemoaning the fact that I hadn’t yet started writing these words. With a mother who was a headteacher, she said “My mum always wrote a poem for the leaving children.” Mmmmm, I thought, tough challenge. Then, yesterday, Mrs Packman delivered a self-penned poem at the Pre-Prep Prize Giving… So, without wishing to build up expectations too much, and mindful also of my 6 minute 12 second target, here we go.

Year Eight, You’ll be great!

Thank you and I hope you all enjoy a happy and restful summer.

C D Searson