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Staff Leavers this role, Mike was responsible for all aspects of delivering the IB both from the perspective of pupils and teachers alike. With the second cohort of students all having successfully completed their Diploma and having achieved positive value added in virtually all subjects and at all levels sat, Mike can be proud of how he has led the School through the early stage of its delivery of the IB programme.
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Mike and Adele Bowen-Jones 1988-2012 Mike joined Bromsgrove as Head of Physics in 1988. For the following twentyfour years, whatever other roles he fulfilled - and he took on many - he remained a hugely respected classroom teacher, his warm and supportive approach combining with his expert knowledge ensuring that cohort after cohort of his pupils achieved superb results. He became a Senior Examiner with AEB and then AQA and his experience teaching international students and his flair as a physicist were soon evident in the original papers he was setting all Sixth Formers nationally. In 1990 with the arrival of the National Curriculum there was a need for a Head of Science and Mike with his inclusive and measured management
style was the obvious choice for this role. Whilst playing a full role in physics and science education within Bromsgrove and beyond, Mike was not a narrow academic. With Adele he was joint Houseparent of Mary Windsor and for thirteen years ran a thoroughly well-organised House, within which the girls were both happy and well looked-after. Mike was also Head of Boarding (another role he performed well) and provided a sense of calm wisdom at Senior Management Team meetings. Mike’s unique leadership experience on both the academic and pastoral sides of School life, his composed management style and his rapport with pupils saw him become Bromsgrove’s first IB Co-ordinator. The IB represents a radically different approach to Sixth Form education compared to A Levels, and in
With Mike’s retirement, Bromsgrove is losing a renaissance Schoolmaster whose decency and concern for his subject and for his pupils both inside and outside of the classroom did much to contribute to the tone of the School over the last quarter of a century. P Ruben Adele has given Bromsgrove School twenty-four years outstanding service in a number of roles including Houseparent, girls’ games, PSHE, ski trips organiser, Lower Fourth Camp organiser, i/c CAS and latterly Head of the Extra-Curricular programme in the Senior School. Adele and Mike led the smooth running of Mary Windsor House so much so that other Houseparents would be drawn to them for advice that was always forthcoming from such a family orientated House.
Their three girls – Lisa, Clare and Emily - shared in their input to develop such a caring environment for other pupils to grow and develop. Their interest in skiing was also evident as they religiously ran not only ski holidays for pupils but very popular holidays began emerging to include families as well. As a qualified PE teacher, Adele enjoyed working in the Prep School immensely, preparing girls for the Senior School and the rigours that entailed. She was very keen to help those who struggled and who found PE more of a chore than an enjoyment and, particularly for those, she was a source of encouragement. Adele came into her own when school embarked on the new timetable moving activities to a Saturday where her vision and exemplary organisation (and understanding of both the pupil and School requirements enabled 900 pupils plus over 100 members of staff to commence both a varied and worthwhile programme that continued to strengthen under her guidance and commitment. This also dovetailed in with the introduction of the IB and her role to make sure that pupils managed their CAS expectations. We all know how much family means to both Adele and Mike and we wish them the happiest retirement with the family. P Mullan