Mr Tom Clayton-Shepherd,
Interview with Mrs Sally Filho,
the new Head of Rugby
the new Head of Drama
‘I think I embarrass myself every day at some point, either being bowled out by a Year 8 pupil or being beaten by pupils in sport (this happens a lot!)’ What was your previous education like/what qualifications do you have? I went to Colstons School in Bristol, where I boarded from the age of 13 -18. I did alright at school from an academic point of view, definitely messed around too much and caused a bit of trouble for my parents but on the whole achieved quite good academic qualifications. I then went to Chichester University to train to become a PE teacher. What previous jobs have you had? What was your very first job? Before joining PGS, I worked at a great school called Perins, near Winchester. I worked there for 7 years. During my time at Chichester I had lots of jobs, some good … some not. I remember working in a factory, bagging potpourri: it was horrendous. 12 hours shifts in a factory. I didn’t last long in that job! What is your most embarrassing teaching moment? I think I embarrass myself every day at some point, either being bowled out by a Year 8 pupil or being beaten by pupils in sport (this happens a lot!) Have you taught any famous or influential people? If not, who would you like to have taught? No, I haven’t had the pleasure of teaching anyone famous yet. I have coached a lot of players who have gone onto play elite level rugby, but hardly famous. What was your favourite previous teaching job? I really enjoyed my time at Perins School. I learnt so much about teaching and coaching sport. The pupils were very keen and enthusiastic and we had some really good times together.
mind control of Yoda! All three of those would create an amazing character. What is your favourite book? Believe it or not I do like to read! And this is a difficult question to answer. I have just read a book called Talk so People Listen and Listen so People Talk. It was amazing and very thoughtprovoking. I remember my English teacher saying everybody must read Moby Dick as ‘a rite of passage’. Well I did and I didn’t like it or get what the hype was about - I suppose, being dyslexic, the language didn’t help me very much! What is your favourite film? My top 3 films are 1. Shawshank Redemption 2. Star Wars-
Return of the Jedi 3. Grease. Do you have any hobbies? I obviously enjoy sport, both playing and watching however away from the field of combat, I enjoy swimming, rock climbing and going on outdoor adventures with my family. What is your favourite food? Any, just lots of it! If you could swap lives with a celebrity, who would you choose? Does Mr Priory count as a celebrity? He is always in the local papers or off giving talks to people, so it would good to live his life for a day! What is your lifelong ambition? Apart from taking PGS rugby to world dominance, to raise my family and be a true role model to my children.
What is your life time proudest moment? Getting married and having 2 amazing young boys is my proudest moment. Away from my family it would probably be representing England Students at rugby (that was a long time ago though…)
If you were stuck on a desert island, what 5 items would you take? A knife, some flint, a plastic sheet to build a shelter with, my family and a selection of sports equipment- to keep me and my boys busy!
If you could be any Disney character who would you be? I think possibly Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story, as he is pretty awesome, looks good and claims to be able to fly! Or maybe Baloo the Bear, from The Jungle Book. Both characters don’t take themselves too seriously but always try their best and never hurt anybody else.
What is your worst fear? That is deep! As Marianne Williamson states “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others”.
If you could have a superpower, what would you have? The ability to fly is obviously one of the top qualities; however if I could create myself as a superman, I would have the timebending powers of Neo from The Matrix, Raiden’s (God of electricity from Mortal Combat) power of electricity and the
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‘What is your life-long ambition? To have made a positive long-term difference to the lives of my pupils, big or small; to have made a contribution to knowledge that will have a positive impact for future generations.’ What was your previous education like/what qualifications do you have? • The King’s School, Worcester • The University of Exeter, BA (Hons) • The Open University, PGCE • The University of Bath, MA • First person in the world to gain the IB level 1 and 2 Teacher Awards (for practice-based research into IB education) • Currently in my second year of a research PhD with the University of Bangor What previous jobs have you had? What was your very first job? First job - teacher of English and Drama at Malvern College, Worcestershire Second job - Head of Theatre, King William’s College, Isle of Man Third job - Head of Arts Faculty, Sotogrande International School, Andalusia, Spain. What is your most embarrassing teaching moment? More bemusing than embarrassing: reprimanding 13 year old boy in my English class at Malvern for not correctly writing the essay title at the top of his work. He had instead written just ‘Prinz Hannover’ and no essay title. When queried, the boy replied, quite rightly, that I had asked everyone to write their name and the title at the top of the work: his family name was Hannover and he was a prince - fair enough! Have you taught any famous or influential people? If not, who would you like to have taught? As above... various nobility (UK and International) and brand name “aristocracy” (Cadbury family, Bulmer family, Zeppelin family), son of the Chair of the World Bank, taught Pam Ayres’ sons Drama, also Zoe Ball, Dick Francis’s grandson....etc... There is nobody I would particularly like to have taught - everyone has the potential to do extremely well at something. Whether they become famous or gain influence for that is another matter entirely. What was your favourite previous teaching job? Teaching my son to ride his bike! What is your life time proudest moment? Holding my son in my arms for the first time
If you could be any Disney character who would you be? Ferdinand the Bull If you could have a superpower, what would you have? To be able to speak any language in the world fluently What is your favourite book? • Shakespeare, King Lear • Dickens, Our Mutual Friend What is your favourite film? Alain Resnais, L’année Dernière à Marienbad Do you have any hobbies? I write poetry: www.newsamorphosis.com What is your favourite food? King prawns; Indian food generally If you could swap lives with a celebrity, who would you choose? Vaclav Havel in 1989 If you could have any promotion, whose job would you have? Director General of the IB Organisation What is your life-long ambition? To have made a positive long-term difference to the lives of my pupils, big or small; to have made a contribution to knowledge that will have a positive impact for future generations. If you were stuck on a desert island, what 5 items would you take? The complete works of Shakespeare The King James Bible Some sort of wind-up or solar charged radio A powerful telescope A Swiss army knife What is your worst fear? Narrow-minded people in positions of power
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