Entrevista al jefe de estudios de Bachiller

James Slocombe, nuestro jefe de estudios de Bachillerato, nos a concedido una agradable entrevista en la que nos describe sus comienzos en el Canterbury School y un poco de su pasado. Como no , como buen jefe de estudios nos habla sobre su futuro en el colegio y los planes que tiene para los estudiantes.
1. Why did you decide to come to Spain?It wasn’t really planned, it was more luck. I saw a job advertised, I applied, and I got it. I remember Mr. Bedford describing a wonderful tropical island during my interview…!2. Where did you work before coming to this school?Milfield School, Somerset, in the UK.
3. Did you ever imagine yourself living in another country? Was it in your plans?Yes absolutely. It was definitely in my plans. I’ve also lived in other countries besides Spain, including Ireland and Malta, and for a short time in Canada.
4. Have you got any plans for the future, or are you thinking about staying in the school?I have many many plans for the future. In the short and medium term, yes. But sorry, I don’t imagine a long-term future in the Canary Islands. I have the benefit of having family spread around the world, so that has the advantage of making it easy to travel and work in many different countries. 5. Do you enjoy teaching business?ABSOLUTELYYY!! Without an aptitude for my subject I’d be the most dull and boring teacher ever. That’s why I love it. 6. What other experiences, apart from the academic ones, have you had in your life? How has this helped in your work?I am a Trustee and Director for the British Youth Council; I lead the organisations International Strategy group. I have a great experience within the Scout Association (at International level) and the Commonwealth Youth Programme. I have been the UK’s delegate to the UN Youth Programme and the European Youth Forum. I’ve also run my own business (although it is obviously not that successful as to enable my retirement!!). (HOW HAS IT HELPED IN YOUR WORK?) All of these experiences are very valuable. I’ve learnt many management, teamwork and leadership skills; I’ve learnt to love life-long-learning as a philosophy and progressivism as its driver. I’ve learnt that change is more often than not a good thing and that new ideas and creative solutions are what we [as teachers] seek. Plus all of the work I do with BYC keeps me young and forces me to maintain young people, my students, as my focus. All very key skills as a Head of Sixth Form!7. for what reason did you want to become head of the 6th form?I wanted to have the opportunity to exercise my enthusiasm, my professional and voluntary experience and also as a career progression opportunity.8. Are you happy with your head of 6th form position?Happy but not content. There are many things I’d like to implement in order to make the Sixth Form a better place for students like you to study. 9. What do you want to achieve in the school?My first priority is to install and maintain a positive, creative and progressive academic atmosphere, where you feel secure and able to learn to the best of your ability. 10. What improvements would you be happy to see in the school?Too many to list (I also have a job to protect!)11. What do you expect from the A-level group, our group, this year?That is difficult to answer... but I’d expect you [as students] to feel that we [as teachers] have done our job to the best of our ability, by providing you with the environment in which you are able to fulfil your ambitions. I expect to you feel like you can leave Canterbury knowing you were supported and looked after – and you can go to the University or enter work where you aspire to. If you achieve that, I can’t achieve much more... 12. What would you say to encourage us to make a harder effort with our A-levels?To understand that your A-levels are just the beginning of realising that life-long-learning is a liberating and incredibly rewarding process.13. During the last years you have started the international award as well as a debating society. What do you intend to do next year?Before I get as far as next year I’ll evaluate the success of both of these things and improve them. I hope you’ve found them valuable experiences? But in terms of additions, I have many creative ideas that I need to discuss with my staff team first... watch this space. 14. We have always seen teacher as academic figures, although you are also human. Why don’t you show us more of your personal life and tell us what your hobbies are?I love travelling to faraway places (I rarely spend a weekend on Gran Canaria!); I also love camping and campfires. I really enjoy walking, kayaking, skiing and playing badminton. I also avidly read The Economist and watch … at every opportunity… STAR TREK!15. What do you think students think about you?The relationship I have with different year groups is different. In general I’d expect all students to consider me as fair and consistent, approachable and caring.16. Are you happy with the results achieved in your life?Again, happy but not content. My achievements thus far don’t reflect my potential – that’s not just in my professional life, but also my personal life.