THERE AND BACK AGAIN. A HEAD’S JOURNEY

Hautlieu’s current Head Teacher, Nick Falle, has been involved with the school community since starting here as a student in 1990. His journey brings the story of Hautlieu itself up to date and beyond.

Tell me about the beginning, what was it like being a sixth former here back in the early ‘90s?

My defining memory of my time here in the sixth form is how shocked I was that the school was really interested in my opinions. This seemed very different to my earlier experiences of education. I was now in a place where students were encouraged to think for themselves and to question the world around them; to be politically aware, socially aware and to debate with teachers, rather than simply being told facts. That’s really when I knew that this was the school for me.

Would you say that you blossomed as a student because of being in that environment?

A good question, because on arrival I didn’t have the confidence to express my opinions or to really connect with the world around me. But what made Hautlieu special was that the relationships with teachers were very nurturing and encouraging. It seemed to me that every single teacher believed that each individual student had the potential to be informed about the world and to ask those difficult questions and we were given the time, space, and encouragement to do that. The cohort was much smaller back then. My year group was probably in the region of around 80 students. This September, we had just over 300 students in year 12.

Were there any teachers that stood out as inspirational?

All my A-level teachers were brilliant, so I was I was very lucky. I was taught by the lovely Robin Dupre and Anne Barbette in Business Studies. I was also taught History by the great Mike Sheldrake and Carol Pratt. Classes in General Studies A-level really stood out for me, taught by the legend that is Cyd Le Bail, who many former Hautlians will remember. He demanded to hear our opinions being a passive passenger in one of his lessons simply wasn’t allowed! We were not only encouraged but told that it was our responsibility to have a view on political issues such as human rights and equality. We weren’t told what to think, but we were told that we needed to think. It was also clear that the teachers were not looking for the “right answer,” they were just looking for an answer.

Getting involved in politics at both a local and national level with organisations like Amnesty International was encouraged. For instance, I remember petitioning and protesting the implementation of the underpass in Saint Helier, because of concerns about the environmental impact. Hautlieu was perhaps ahead of its time in that there was a strong awareness of green issues. Conservation and environmental concerns were things we were (and still are) all encouraged to look at.

What was day-to-day life at the school like back then?

Only good memories really. I think it was clear at that point that Hautlieu was growing and was going to need a new school soon and it had an incredibly special atmosphere. It had a beautiful library. Another lovely thing we had was a common room – I probably spent too much time in the common room, if I’m honest. It also dawned on me, as I believe is the case now, how calm the school was. It wasn’t boisterous or competitive in a negative way. I remember being aware of how respectful students were towards one another, and that it wasn’t a school where teachers were shouting at students or students were shouting at their peers. It was as calm as I think it is now, and I think for many students, both then and now, this was a big part of the appeal of the school. This is a place where we talk to each other respectfully and strive to be free of negative attitudes or bullying or prejudice.

Why did you decide to train to become a teacher?

I was particularly inspired to take up this career by one of my History teachers, Carol Pratt, who taught me that if you give students confidence, you can really transform their lives that stayed with me. And I continue to be grateful to this day to that teacher. I thought, what an amazing privilege: being able to do a job where you can positively influence someone’s life.

What was it like coming back to Hautlieu to work as a newly qualified teacher?

So, you can imagine me as a fresh-faced 23 year old walking into a school with all my former teachers now being my colleagues, or in some cases, my boss! That took some getting used to. I was a bit nervous, and I remember walking into the staff room for the first time requiring quite an act of courage. But then it all became quite easy because my former teachers were all incredibly supportive of me as a fellow teacher. My first line manager was one of my History teachers, Mike Sheldrake, who still works with us from time to time. I will admit that it did take me about six months to stop calling him “Sir.”

And then you left Hautlieu for a while?

Well, I stayed for the first two years of my career, and I knew Hautlieu was the place I wanted to be, but I was also very aware that I needed a range of other experiences. So, for a few years I went to the UK and worked in different places to “learn my craft,” before returning in 2005.

When you came back in 2005, what major changes did you notice?

The wonderful building that we’re in. But perhaps its more pertinent to talk about what hadn’t changed: the values and that belief in critical thinking and questioning the world. That is really what I see as part of my mission to this day: to retain those values.

And how does it feel to be the Headteacher?

The job is not about me. The job is always about the students and their families whom you serve, and I’m immensely proud to be in a Jersey education system that offers students and parents choice. And we are privileged to have students who have chosen to come to Hautlieu, so my role is to make sure that this was the right choice and to be a custodian of the values that we think are so important: the calmness, the questioning, the inclusivity.

What are your favourite events in the school calendar that you look forward to every year?

I could talk for a long time on this, but I’ll give you a couple of examples: the Senior Citizens’ Christmas party is very special because that’s about young people contributing to their community doing something special for people in Jersey who may not have a wide range of social opportunities. The fact that the students work really hard in creating a special day for our guests says a lot. Another example has to be GCSE and A-level results days, but not on account of the grades or the statistics achieved, but rather it’s about the smiles on the faces of students for their hard work and their dedication. That’s an incredibly special moment.

Moving forward, what are you excited about? What new initiatives or events are happening next with the school that you can share with us?

The remarkable thing about working in education is that our students keep changing and therefore it’s our responsibility to uphold the Hautlieu ethos, but also to adapt and change. And so, it is exciting to watch our curriculum grow and develop. We’re introducing GCSE Psychology for the first time to complement our popular A-level course. We’re unbelievably excited to be developing a GCSE Astronomy course. We’re also exploring a course in International Citizenship, as well as trialling a course that will allow students to learn using their first language and gain an academic qualification. We are also now more aware than ever of how profoundly important it is to support students and one another in coping with mental health challenges, and over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to be able to increase the size of our specialist student support team.

Finally, even though you are a busy Headteacher, you are still a classroom teacher. Why was it important to retain this role?

Oh, it’s essential. My job title is “Head Teacher.” Teaching in the classroom is the most wonderful experience. But also, I learn probably as much about the whole school from those one-hour sessions with my class each day as I do from anything else. It’s simple really; if you want to know how to improve the school, ask the students. And above everything else, the students never cease to make you laugh and give you an extra jolt of energy for your day.