Duncan Byrne
It is difficult to overstate Duncan Byrne’s huge contribution to the academic renaissance of College in recent years. He was appointed in 2010, in large part because of his extensive experience of leading and managing academic matters in some of London’s top academic day schools, Whitgift and Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School. From the very start, he understood that did not mean we wanted College to turn into a highlyselective academic hothouse, but it did mean that we wanted a leader who brought with him a passion and drive for inspirational teaching, detailed knowledge of how to improve pupil attainment, and a clear understanding of how to use assessment data to underpin teacher planning, evaluation and improvement. Duncan quickly adapted to life in a boarding school, gaining a sensitive understanding of how pastoral and academic support one another in a complex environment such as College. He knew about the importance of ‘stretch and challenge’ in the classroom and outside, reviving College’s academic societies, outside lecture programmes and driving the introduction of now wellestablished parts of College academic life, such as the independent projects in Third Form and Lower Sixth, and the vet, medicine, Oxbridge and engineering university preparation programmes. Yet it would be a mistake to presume Duncan’s focus was all on the most academically able – far from it. He was insistent on the importance of establishing a support network for pupils via tutoring and academic clinics for those finding academic matters more challenging. In his time, the learning support operation was completely overhauled and the Ben White Learning Centre was established, College’s reporting and grading systems were changed to promote effort and independent learning above all. Our academic facilities have improved significantly with the refurbishment of the main College library, the Chatfeild-Roberts Library and the transformation of the entire science block at the centre of a completely new academic environment at the school. A born teacher, Duncan was not happy to be detached from the classroom, believing it to be crucial to his understanding of the academic life of the school, and unsurprisingly he was a very popular and highly respected teacher of French and German. He achieved fantastic results by setting high expectations and then giving pupils the confidence and knowledge to succeed – a method he promoted widely to all staff under his leadership. A measure of Duncan’s commitment to his work was that, before he was even under contract to College, he withdrew from the semi-final of the BBC’s prestigious
Mastermind series (where his specialist topic was some unfeasibly obscure piece of French literature and history) in order to lead pre-term staff training at his new school. Duncan will also be remembered for his more colourful side: a fearless performer, a very talented tenor, who also set up his own barber shop singing group with the pupils, a marathon runner, six-a-side football enthusiast, a chef of Alsatian cuisine (which he would impose on his Upper Sixth guests) and the master of the bad pun at staff meetings. He will be sorely missed at College, as will his wife Marie-Claire who worked at College in the Higher Education and Careers office with scrupulous attention to detail and plenty of good humour. Loughborough Grammar School are very fortunate indeed to have secured such a dedicated, proficient and professional Headmaster and we wish Duncan and his family all the very best there.
Dr Alex Peterken
Marie-Claire Byrne
Marie-Claire started her College career working in various roles including assisting in College Office, and as an exam invigilator, reader and scribe. In September 2011 she took up the part-time role of Headmaster’s secretary, working alongside Mrs Sue Baxter for just over three years, doing what Sue would describe as the ‘pastoral’ side of the Headmaster’s work. With her meticulous nature and forward planning, she arranged the annual Education Conference, co-ordinated the Headmaster’s schedule for entertaining and spent six months as acting Marketing Events Organiser. Intelligent, efficient, totally reliable, highly capable and conscientious are just a few accolades you could attribute to Marie-Claire. She has made a huge commitment to College since she arrived and, no matter what she was working on, always delivered to an incredibly high standard. As for proofreading, ‘eagle-eyed’ does not come close to what she picks up on; her attention to detail is legendary! She moved on to the Higher Education and Careers Department in January 2015 and immediately added huge energy and enthusiasm. Countless pupils have benefited greatly from her calm and patient approach when discussing potential careers and university choices. Her meticulous eye for detail and ability to add extra polish to university applications has been a huge asset. In addition, she has streamlined the psychometric testing and profiling in the Fourth Form and has been instrumental in the smooth running of the Careers event and Pre-University Week. Marie-
Claire has a great ability to get on with people and much unseen liaison with housemasters and housemistresses, tutors and parents has ensured that our students have left College with a clear idea of their career path. Approachable and dependable, her one-to-ones with pupils were informed and empathetic. She deserves great credit for displaying superhuman levels of patience with a number of the less forthcoming members of the student body.
VALETE
Our fond farewells
As she leaves her post to support Duncan at Loughborough Grammar School, we extend our sincere thanks to her for all she has added to the Higher Education and Careers Department in her time with us.
Mr Stephen McQuitty
Jonathan Card
Jon joined College from Wellington School in September 2009 and it became very clear from the start that we had employed a high quality schoolmaster. Possessing excellent subject knowledge, he has the ability to teach across the full range of years and sets and, as an excellent teacher, he quickly became a key member of the Mathematics team. Jon was soon appointed to the position of Second in Department, where he led superbly. In particular, he led the Department on Flipped Learning, restructured the Department’s electronic resources, and was an invaluable source of advice and encouragement to me. Jon has a can-do attitude and is known for being proactive. For example, under his own initiative, Jon started College’s Computer Programming club, which is now a flourishing Monday activity and where, amongst other things, pupils learn how to program in Python. Jon also played an active role in wider life of College. As a talented hockey player, he coached at the top level throughout his time at College and was known to be one of our very best coaches. He also brought his juggling skills to Third Form Challenge and was a respected tutor in Christowe. Jon leaves College to move closer to his family and to take up a post at Malvern College. He is a very talented, highly professional and skilful teacher who will be missed by many. I would like to thank him for his very significant contribution to College over the last seven years and, in particular, for his loyalty, hard work and support as an outstanding Second in Department.
Dr Brendan Enright
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