At least that’s the way it feels for me and Heads countrywide as the final pieces of the staffing jigsaw fall into place each year. I always wonder whether it is going to work out, whether we will be left at the end of the summer term with a timetable written but insufficient staff to deliver it. But somehow it does – or at least it has up to now as I am acutely conscious of the danger of becoming a hostage to fortune. Some years are more tricky than others; around 5 years ago a wave seemed to peak and quite a few teachers decided to pursue their careers elsewhere, but since then turnover has been at a more modest level. That’s just as well because recruitment is becoming more difficult in Salisbury, reflecting the national trends in training and retention in the profession. Teaching just isn’t seen as being as very desirable, with the combination of modest pay (compared to the other professions), turbulence caused by politicians, funding crises and poor public perception posing some pretty intimidating barriers to aspiration. Potential teachers, whether they are young or mature really do need to have a calling to go into the classroom, and once they are there then challenges of class control and performance pressures make staying in state schools a tough prospect.
Bishop’s is of course a great place to work nonetheless, and though that makes recruitment a little more straightforward I never take it for granted. There is a slightly higher changeover in teaching colleagues for the coming year, so here is a summary of our new starters for September to keep you up to date. Our Sixth Form Office Team will be led by Zoe Lambard, assisted by Amanda Gough as Charlotte Wilson and Alastair Endersby will be leaving for new posts. Samantha Lawrence will Head the Art Department as David Podger is leaving at the end of this term. Teaching in the Science Faculty from September will be Collette Maunder and Ruth Tonkin, our new teacher i/c Psychology will be Nikki Mesnard and Phil Loughlin will join the Maths Department after training with us in the current academic year. Bryan Bull will join the DT Department as Martin Taylor retires and Oliver Stamp (who also trained at BWS several years ago) is also re-joining us to teach History and Politics. There are some internal changes too in the pastoral staff, with Dan Brown and Vicki Danaher taking over as Head and Assistant Head of Lower School (Years 7 & 8) respectively and Louise Drummond has already started as Assistant Head of Middle School. Finally As Natalie Steer (Head of RE) is leaving us, Bal Kaur and Jeremy Browning will be assuming responsibility for jointly leading the Department through the coming academic year. The one gap in the jigsaw remaining at present is for an RE teacher. The post is currently advertised.
It is quite a complex picture; around 70 teachers work at BWS, and almost all of them teach across the full age range including A level. Non-specialist teaching is generally not an option given the demands of the courses and the ability level of the boys, so I am sure you can understand why insomnia is an ever-present danger in the run-up to resignation date at the end of May…
SDS
