WEBVTT
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Hello, I'm Nikki Miller, host of the School Guide Edinburgh, a podcast born from the Nursery and School Guide Edinburgh magazine.
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This first series is coming out to coincide with the Independent School Open Days.
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My guest this week is Pete Richardson, head of Loreto School, a co-ed boarding school with nursery and day pupils aged 3 to 18.
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Situated in Muslborough in East Lothian, just southside of Edinburgh, the school has fewer than 500 pupils.
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It offers amazing facilities, including a top-class golf academy, and follows the English curriculum and exams.
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They have an open day for the senior school on Saturday, the 26th of September, and for the junior school in October.
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So let's find out from Pete why Loreto should be added to your Umpen Day list.
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Hello, Pete.
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Thanks for joining us today on this busy week, first week back to school.
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Before we start, could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into education?
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Thank you very much for having me.
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Lovely to see you.
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So I um am South African-born, um, but I started teaching English and history uh fresh out of university at the age of 21.
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Um I attended boarding schools and have worked in boarding schools my entire career.
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Um my mum was the principal of a township school in our hometown in um in South Africa.
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Uh, and my dad was a Methodist minister, but he was the head of theology uh at the University of Kusula Natal.
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So essentially he was also in education.
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Um I've always loved literature, I've always loved history, um, but was drawn to a career in education uh because I felt it was about um nurturing young people and the opportunity to shape lives.
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Um so that that's where I've come from.
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I had inspirational teachers at boarding school um as well, and I suppose they shaped uh shaped me or had a part to play in shaping me and the career that I've chosen.
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Oh wow, yeah.
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You've got a lovely South African accent, I might say.
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I do like that accent.
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Um so when did you become head at Loretto?
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When did you join?
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I I'm in my third year of headship now.
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So I became head in August uh 24.
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So uh two years ago.
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Um uh I was the senior deputy head here at Loreto before that.
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Um and if I go back a little bit further in my history, I I spent 11 years up at Gordonston, where I was a housemaster, the child protection coordinator, the assistant head of boarding.
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Um I was also at Workshop College before that for six years.
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Uh um and uh I was a housemaster there, but also teaching English and history.
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Oh, right.
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So you've had a long history through um history, uh history, uh, through boarding schools.
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Um and do you have children at the school as well?
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Yeah, so the Richardson family is very much um immersed in the life of Loreto.
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So uh firstly, my wife Mel is also South African, uh South African born, and we met in South Africa.
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She works in the junior school uh uh and administration, but she has a really important role uh in supporting me uh and being a uh a pillar of strength for me as well.
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But I've got two two children, both are Loretonians, so I've got uh Jenny, who's just finished her GCSEs and is about to embark on A levels.
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Uh, she'll be back in school uh tomorrow, and Fergus, who is is 14 um and is about to start GCSEs, uh year 10.
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We call a fourth form here.
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Well, you've got the fun years then to come.
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Yeah, exactly.
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Yeah, exactly.
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Um so how would you describe your leadership style and what values guide you most as head?
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That's a really good question.
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Um my leadership style is very much collaborative and open door.
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I talk to the staff and I talk to the pupils and I talk to the parents about an open door policy um here at Lorette.
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So I think the size of the school lends itself to that.
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That staff will often come to my door and say, Have you got 30 seconds?
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And parents often ask for appointments, and and even some of the pupils will say, Sir, can we can we have a chat?
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So that open door collaborative policy.
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So I like to be approachable, I like to be friendly uh as well.
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Um, my values when I arrived here were the Richardson rules, and and and those have been I've tried to sort of uh force down my parent my children's throats, which is uh be honest, be kind, do your best.
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Um, but we as a school, uh one of the things I'm really proud of is a piece of work we did in my first year of headship is we um we surveyed the school and we asked them, what do you think it is to be a modern Lauratonian?
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And we came up with the values uh uh uh kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
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And those are those are the four values that guide the school.
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Um, and all the decisions are made right up to my desk, right up to SLT.
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Um, and I always say to the say to the pupils and the parents and the staff, the most important one there is that first one that comes first for a reason, and that's kindness.
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Um so we try to be a kind and inclusive school as well.
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Yeah.
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Um, and do you still teach at any time, or are you too busy?
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Obviously, it's ahead.
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I I I I wish I had time to teach.
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I I do miss it.
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It's it's one of the reasons it's the reason I went into education is spending time with young people.
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I've tried to find different ways of spending time with young people.
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So that is through being at the gate every morning and greeting the day pupils as they arrive and saying hi to parents and recognizing their cars.
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Um, and uh, and then I go and always stand outside the classroom area, it's called the Ash Court.
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I always go there and stand and try and have conversations with pupils who pass by.
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But I do I do miss the classroom uh a lot.
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Um it's it's in my blood.
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Yeah, I'm sure.
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Um, so what is would you say is your approach to discipline and also bullying?
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I think the the background to it all is is we've got to have a proactive approach.
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And the proactive approach is sticking to our values of of kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
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And we constantly talk to the pupils about that.
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So in assemblies, uh which we call doubles here, uh, we will talk about the values.
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We'll always say to I always say to the pupils, be kind in your thoughts, your words, and your deeds.
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If you've got nothing nice to say, try not to say it.
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Always be inclusive, look out for that pupil who's being left out.
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Um so a proactive approach in that sense.
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In terms of the bullying, um, we I also talk about having integrity, the the having the strength of character.
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If you do see something unkind or someone, something that you feel is not right, having the strength of character to actually intervene and say, look, that's that's not that's not okay.
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Um so those two things in particular are really are really important when it comes to bullying.
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Um, our approach is very much uh an educational one.
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I think you know, some of life's biggest lessons, you know, yes, academic success is important, it opens doors certainly for the future, but more importantly, trying to create good human beings, good kind people who are going to go out into the world and and make good decisions, that's more important than anything else.
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Um, and so um I um I think we have a real opportunity in a school like this, a boarding school like Loreto, to help pupils navigate uh um the teenage years, which are tricky years, um, help them navigate that and and learn how to be kind to each other, learn how to to be inclusive, look, learn to stand up when they see things not right.
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Sometimes we have to have difficult conversations, that's part of our job as as well.
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Um, I think it's it's that's important.
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But generally we adopt an educational approach.
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And yes, sometimes there is a need to, if someone hasn't learned, there might be the need to perhaps think about uh a sanction as well.
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Mm-hmm.
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Yeah, no.
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Um you touched on it earlier about um you know Loreto is quite a small school, um, and you have small class sizes, is it around about so 12 to 16 pupils in a class?
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Is that roughly right kind of?
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Yeah, so we're about 450 pupils in the school.
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Um our um our in in at in the younger years up to up to including GCSEs, the class sizes are roughly 14 in a class.
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That's our average class size.
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When it gets up to A levels, um your class size averages around nine.
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So it does it does get smaller, which means it's really hard to to to hide, it's really hard to get lost in a in a school of our size.
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And I think I have the great privilege at Loreto of getting to know all the pupils by name and getting to know their parents and getting to know what their their interests and hobbies are and seeing them score goals on the on the astral scoring trials and rugby.
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It's a real privilege.
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You follow the English curriculum.
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Um, what would you say are the key advantages that brings, you know, compared to the Scottish curriculum?
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Or that's that's a very, very, very good question.
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So we we deliberately follow the A-level, um, the A levels and GCSEs, the English curriculum, but because we believe in the the challenge and rigour that that it affords as well.
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Um we offer uh 17 GCSE subjects, so pupils get to choose.
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Uh obviously, our pupils have to do the core subjects, so they have to do English language um and they and they have to do maths at GCSE, and then they do some of the sciences along that.
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But then they've got a choice um, you know, from the arts across to the sciences to to languages as well.
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At A level, there's a choice of 21 subjects, and we also offer uh B Techs as well.
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We offer B Tech Sport and uh B Tech Business as well uh on the side there, um, which are very both very, very popular options, but we we've chosen them because we deliberately follow the English curriculum because of the the challenge and the rigor of the English curriculum.
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Yeah.
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Also, obviously, being uh you're a boarding school, so pupils probably come from all over.
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Where would you say geographically um a lot of the boarding pupils come from?
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Or and also do you have local families that choose boarding for their children?
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Absolutely, we do.
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So we we are 80% uh Scottish, uh Scottish school.
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So most of our families come from East Lothian, they come from the borders, they come from the north of England as well.
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Um we we have roughly 26 different nationalities in the school.
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Um and um uh they the the pupils that come to us from from around the world, one of the big draws of this of Loreto is our our golf academy, the unique offering there that we got the golf academy.
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So that's that's really important.
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But pupils come to us and they uh and they can they can be day pupils.
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We do have day pupils in the school, but our ethos is is our our structure of our week is based around a boarding structure.
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We have flexi boarders who come and stay three nights a week.
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We have weekly boarders who come in on a on a Sunday night or a Monday morning, whatever suits modern families, and they go home after their commitments um on a Saturday, which is mainly sport on a Saturday.
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And then we have the full boarders who are here.
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Um, this is their second home.
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Um, we don't close altogether over our um what we call overnight leave weekends.
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Other schools might call them uh leave outs or exats.
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Our boarding houses remain open because we're aware that for some families who come from Germany or Spain or Mexico, wherever they come from uh to us in the world, it might be a bit far to get home.
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So we we deliberately remain open in those moments.
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But we we are um very cosmopolitan, 26 different nationalities, but but 80% of our of our pupils come from sort of Scotland, north of England.
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What would you say are the core advantages for pupils who board?
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I went to boarding school myself, and so I can speak from from first hand experience, then I've worked in in boarding schools.
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I think it's you make such amazing friendships being at uh being at a boarding school.
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Um, I've heard some boarders describe it as it's like permanent sleepover.
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So you um, yes, there's routine to follow, and there's supper, and then you've got prep uh in the evening where you do your homework um until 8:30, but then you've got time to to go out to the uh to the to the school's astroturf uh and go and play, I don't know, football, tennis, hockey.
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We have all sorts of boarders activities put on in on um on in the evenings as well.
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Some of our staff will come into the boarding houses and and do some cooking in the kitchens as well.
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Um and uh so it's just a chance to forge friendships.
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There's also a chance for some of our older pupils, they'll tap into the expertise of our staff who are on duty in the houses.
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So let's say that they're doing business studies and the business teacher happens to be on duty in one of the houses, they might go across and have a have a have a clinic, uh, an extra lesson with with the business teacher or work in study groups with other pupils as well.
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There's so many advantages to boarding.
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Um but it's really that whole thing of the length of day, making friendships, uh taking full advantage of all those opportunities that are that are there for you.
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Yeah.
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And what how how would you um say to parents who are not sure if their child would suit boarding?
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What's the are there any tips you could give to parents who are considering boarding but they don't quite know if they should or shouldn't?
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Well, one of the things we would offer parents if they weren't sure is we'd offer the child a taster evening.
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They can come into the school and and and and give it a go.
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We've had pupils who stayed for a couple of nights just to see if they like the routine of of staying and see if see how they feel that they'd they'd settle in.
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So we'd firstly offer that as well.
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Uh I spoke to the new uh new new parents and pupils just last night, welcome them to the school.
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And having gone to boarding school myself, I know um that you know homesick, homesickness is something that that that is quite natural and something that you will experience.
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And the best piece of advice I could give to to any um um any parent or any pupils, just keep yourself busy, get out there.
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Uh, you know, don't say say yes more than you say no to to those opportunities uh as well.
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I'd also reassure the parents, if the parents are asking us, just we've got a really good pastoral system here.
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We've got um we've got tutors who who are who our young people meet with every single day, first thing in the morning, uh for for for um where key piece of information are handed over, then they go off and into their lessons.
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They've got a head of year above that, and the head of year is keeping an eye on sort of the overall interaction in that year group and and patterns.
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And above that, we've got our child protection um officer, our deputy head pastoral, is our is our child protection officer in in the school as well.
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And above that, you've got a senior deputy head, and then you've got me and my family who live on campus.
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And then you've got the house team as well.
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So you've got the house master, house, house mistress, and the assistant house master, mistress, and the and the assistant house manager.
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There are so many people um out there keeping an eye on your son or daughter.
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And if they notice something that they're not sure about, they're gonna raise it, they're gonna or they're gonna check in with um with your son and daughter or pass it on.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Um that's really good to hear.
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And what would you say are the positive impacts of a boarding school for day pupils?
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Is there any benefits to them?
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So absolutely, there's our day pupils are are fully integrated into our boarding houses.
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This is a change uh which um which I brought in uh a couple of years ago.
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So all our houses are a mixture of day, flexi, weekly, and boarding pupils.
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Um, day pupils are fully integrated.
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We encourage day pupils to uh to get involved.
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They're they're invited to um to uh alternative activities.
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I know some of the houses around Christmas, for example, they'll go, they'll go to to um to watch a theatre production or they might go out and have a meal together.
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Day pupils are very much encouraged to to join in on that are included in in the house system as well, so they feel a part of a part of that as well.
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Um I'm aware of the time that I've got so many questions to ask.
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So I must now dive into your golf academy.
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Um how are pupils selected for that or how do they how does that how is the golf academy working?
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Well, yeah, they they uh just they select us.
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So um we the golf academy, we were the first school in the UK to start a a golf academy in the in uh in the 90s.
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Um about 12 years ago, we we built our own purpose-built uh internal uh facility, and it's an amazing facility.
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It's it's got trackman, cave, putlab, but I'm not a golfer, but but I've had to learn all these things.
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Um we've got um a shop, we've got a gym, um, it's an amazing facility.
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Um, I think the most important thing to say is we've got four four fantastic um professionals that work full-time in our golf academy.
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That is their job.
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They're part of our common room, like uh an English or a math teacher is.
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Um and uh and so the the I suppose it's it's what we offer that's quite attractive uh to our parents.
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Our location is fantastic.
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We are on the Gulf Coast.
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Um, so over the road, our pupils will cross the road, and you've got the old course Musselboro, which is actually the oldest continuous played golf course in the world.
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And that's sort of the home home golf course, which is just over the road where our pupils will go and play golf, and then they go down uh the golf coast and access a range of of links golf courses which are which are on on our doorstep.
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Um, so we're very lucky.
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It's it's the facilities we got, it's our location.
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But I think really importantly, Loretta's about people, and I would highlight the four um professionals uh that we have on our on our staff full-time who coach.
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Pupils can join us of all sorts of abilities.
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We have those who are uh the elites who have uh um single-figure handicaps, they'll be on our top program, our elite program, and they'll perhaps be looking for scholarships to United States universities.
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We have the the golfers who are solid golfers in the middle, and then we get those who sort of want to play socially.
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We even offer a get into golf program uh for boys and and girls, um uh uh and uh which has been really, really uh attractive.
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But the to answer your question, um they they choose us um and hope and our product.
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Fantastic.
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Um so beyond golf, what other extracurricular activities are especially popular, or which ones do you think might surprise parents to learn new offer?
00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:18.960
Well, we have a we have a we have a very popular astronomy club.
00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:26.880
Uh we've got a very uh passionate uh uh head of physics here who who loves this astronomy and is very passionate about STEM.
00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:29.519
Um we so we have astronomy.
00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:38.880
Uh we build a go-kart every single year, which gets raced around the sort of quad area outside here, uh, which is which is which is uh quite fun.
00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.839
We have a very active uh dance program.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.440
Uh we do really well in Model United Nations.
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.039
We we have 60 different activities to choose from uh during the week.
00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.480
So it's so broad.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:20:03.279
Um, you know, from from STEM to to ceramics, we have a ceramicist who comes in and helps our uh our pupils uh uh build beautiful things and and fire them.
00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.000
Uh so we got we got that as well.
00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:11.599
Um so it's so broad, um but a range of 60 different things.
00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.559
Wow.
00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:23.119
Um so this whole sort of series of podcasts is obviously promoting the independent school open days, and um you have uh senior school open day coming up on the 26th of September.
00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.240
Um and I think then it's the junior schools in October, isn't it?
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.680
That uh we run that.
00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:37.279
So Saturday, the 26th of September is is the senior school open day, and the junior school open day is on the afternoon of Friday, the 2nd of October.
00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:48.000
What's lovely about it is we always get our pupils to show parents around, and I think um the pupils are the best advocate for the school, so they will give you a tour and you get a little flavour for for what you want.
00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:52.240
But I would stress that we we we like to be individualized in our approach to parents.
00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:57.920
If if parents would like to come in and have a have a have a meeting to start off with, we can do that.
00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:04.160
Or if they'd like a taste today for for their son or daughter, we can facilitate uh that as well.
00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:09.039
So we we you know there's no one uh one kind of approach for every every family.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:13.759
No, so people who do come to your open day, what what can they expect?
00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.640
What's the format of the morning um when they come?
00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.839
Yes on Saturday.
00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:29.599
In the senior school open day, it it would start off with with just a meeting and a coffee, and then we would uh we would give you a tour with some of our six-form pupils who would show you around our beautiful campus.
00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:40.400
It would um sort of draw to a close in the chapel where there'd be a short address uh by me about about Loretto and why I choose Loretto.
00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:45.279
And then after that, we offer uh parents an opportunity to see what the food is like at Loreto as well.
00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:48.319
Um so we've got a wonderful patron team here.
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:57.200
Um and uh so we give them an opportunity to to have some lunch with us and sit down with staff and ask some of our teaching staff what is Loreto like?
00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.440
Um so that's what they can look forward to.
00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:08.400
What sort of I mean people look quite far ahead, I presume, you know, if they're looking at the senior school, they might have children who are quite young, maybe even still and they're looking, yeah.
00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:11.200
So it's not just people start saying it.
00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.319
Family will make.
00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.960
Um you know, it's important that they get it right.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:23.519
You know, every child is different and and and um you know the most important thing is that a child is happy.
00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:26.640
Uh, if a child is happy, everything else will fall into place.
00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:32.160
So um making sure your child will be happy and you've chosen the school, will your child be happy is the most important thing.
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.720
So I'd say start, you can never start too early.
00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.720
Yeah, that's a good tip.
00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:44.160
Um, yeah, so now is there anything that I haven't asked you that you think is important for people to know about Loretta?
00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:51.200
I think the the thing that I would touch on is uh come come and visit.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:23:00.559
We are we you know, people talk about community, some people take that a step forward further and say that we are more like a family at Loretta.
00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.160
It's very much a family feel here.
00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.880
We want our we want our families to be involved.
00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:16.079
We have an active um uh uh group called the Friends of Loretta, which are really important, um, in which we invite families in to come and have breakfast with us and come and have come and have drinks events with us.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:29.599
We encourage our parents to come and support our sports program, uh our sports fixtures, our plays, uh to join what we call the Red Wall, which is where our pupils go and watch um uh productions or go and watch sports fixtures.
00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.720
We call that the Red Wall.
00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:35.920
So we encourage parents to be a part of the school just as much as we encourage our young people to be part of the school.
00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.400
Yeah, so no, that's excellent.
00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:40.559
Um, well, thank you very much.
00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:42.960
As I said, I'm trying to stick to my 30 minutes.
00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:54.319
I think you have given us um a really good insight to um Loretto, and I'm sure you've sparked lots of interest for parents, and they will come and see for themselves on your rump and day.
00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:57.440
So Pete, thank you very much for coming on the podcast.
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.480
Thank you.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:13.920
If you'd like to get in touch with the show, email me at schoolguidepod at email.com or follow me on Instagram at Nutshrimschool.com.uk.
00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:20.319
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on your preferred podcast platform and leave a review.
00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:23.680
A five-star review helps others find the podcast.
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:29.519
I'll be back next Wednesday with another independent school head, so hopefully see you next week.
00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:23.840
Thanks for joining us today on this busy week, first week back to school.
00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:29.360
Um, before we start, could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into education?
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:32.320
Thank you very much uh for having me.
00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:34.079
Uh lovely to lovely to see you.
00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:42.719
So I um am South African born, um, but I started teaching English and history uh fresh out of university at the age of 21.
00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:48.159
Um uh I attended boarding schools and have worked in boarding schools my entire career.
00:36:48.480 --> 00:37:01.920
Um my mum was the principal of a township school uh in our hometown in um in South Africa, uh, and my dad was a Methodist minister, uh, but he was the head of theology uh at the University of Cousin of itself.
00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:04.320
So essentially he was also in education.
00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:16.960
Um I've always loved literature, I've always loved history, um, but was drawn to a career in education uh because I felt it was about um nurturing young people and the opportunity to shape lives.
00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:20.079
Um so that that's where I've come from.
00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:29.360
I had inspirational teachers at boarding school um as well, and I suppose they shaped uh shaped me or had a part to play in shaping me and the career that I've chosen.
00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:33.519
Oh wow, yeah, you've got a lovely South African accent, I say.
00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.760
I do like that accent.
00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:38.320
Um so when did you become head at Loreto?
00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.360
When did you join?
00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:42.400
I I'm in my third year of headship now.
00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:48.800
So I became head in August uh 24, so uh two years ago.
00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:53.280
Um I was the senior deputy head director before that.
00:37:53.360 --> 00:38:03.519
Um and if I go back a little bit further in my history, I I spent 11 years up at Gordonston where I was a housemaster, the child protection coordinator, the assistant head of boarding.
00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:07.519
Um I was also worked off college before that for six years.
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:13.199
Uh um and uh I was a housemaster there, but also teaching English and history.
00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:19.599
Wow, so you've had a long history through um history, uh history, uh through boarding schools.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:23.039
Um and do you have children at the school as well?
00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:28.159
Yeah, so it's very much um immersed in the life of Loreto.
00:38:28.719 --> 00:38:34.800
So uh firstly, my wife Mel is also South African, uh South African born, and we met in South Africa.
00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:44.719
She works in the junior school, uh an administration, which has a really important role uh in supporting me uh and being a uh a pillar of strength for me as well.
00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:48.559
But I've got two two children, both are Lauretonians.
00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:54.000
So I've got uh Jenny, who's just finished her GTSEs and is about to embark on A-levels.
00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:56.400
Uh she'll be back in school uh tomorrow.
00:38:56.480 --> 00:39:03.840
And Fergus, who is is 14 um and is about to start GCSEs uh in a 10 called platform, yeah.
00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.159
Well, you've got the fun years then.
00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.440
Yeah, exactly.
00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.239
Yeah, exactly.
00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:15.920
Um so how would you describe your leadership style and what values guide you most as Ted?
00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:19.280
That's a really good question.
00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:24.480
Um my leadership style is very much collaborative and open door.
00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:30.480
I talk to the staff and I talk to the pupils and I talk to the parents about an open door policy at the rest.
00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:33.119
So I think the title school lends itself to that.
00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:36.320
That staff will often come to my door and say, Have you got 30 seconds?
00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:42.480
And parents often ask for appointments, and and even some of the pupils will say, So can we can we have a chat?
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:45.199
So that open door collaborative policy.
00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:49.039
So I like to be approachable, I like to be friendly uh as well.
00:39:49.519 --> 00:40:00.880
Um my values when I arrived here were the Richardson rules, and and and those have been I've tried to sort of uh force down my parent my children's jokes, which is uh be honest, be kind, do your best.
00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:14.079
Um but we as a school, uh one of the things I'm really proud of as a piece of work we did in my first year of headship is we um we surveyed the school and we asked them what do you think it is to be a modern Lauritonian?
00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:20.320
And we came up with the values uh uh uh kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:25.280
And those are those are the four values that guide the school.
00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:29.599
Um, and all the decisions are made right up to my desk, right up to SLT.
00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:37.119
Um always say that say the pupils and the parents and the staff, the most important one there is that first one that comes first to reason, and that's kindness.
00:40:37.280 --> 00:40:41.039
Um, so we try to be a kind and inclusive school as well.
00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:42.079
Yeah.
00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:46.639
Um, and do you still teach at any time, or are you too busy?
00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:48.079
Obviously, it's ahead.
00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:51.760
I I I I wish I had time to teach.
00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.960
I I do miss it.
00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:57.280
It's it's one of the reasons it's the reason I went into education, is spending time with young people.
00:40:57.519 --> 00:41:08.559
Well, I've tried to find different ways of spending time with young people, so that is through being at the gate every morning and greeting the day pupils as they arrive and saying hi to parents and recognizing their cast.
00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:14.159
Um and uh and then I go and always stand outside the classroom area, it's called the Ash Court.
00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:18.159
I always go there and stand and try and have conversations with pupils who pass by.
00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:21.440
But I do I do miss the classroom uh a lot.
00:41:21.599 --> 00:41:23.360
Um it's it's in my blood.
00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:24.880
Yeah, I'm sure.
00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:30.239
Um, so what would you say is your approach to discipline and also bullying?
00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:39.199
I think uh the the background to all this is we've got to have a proactive approach.
00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:43.920
And the proactive approach is sticking to our values of kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:45.920
And we constantly talk to the pupils about that.
00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:52.800
So in in assemblies uh which we call doubles here, we will talk about the values.
00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:57.760
We'll always say to I always say to the pupils, be kind in your thoughts, your words, and your deeds.
00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:00.400
If you've got nothing nice to say, try not to say it.
00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:04.000
Always be encouraged to look up for that pupil who's being left out.
00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:07.920
Um so a proactive approach in that sense.
00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:15.440
In terms of bullying, um, we also talk about having integrity, having the strength of character.
00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:25.519
If you do see something unkind or someone, something that you feel is not right, having strength of character to actually intervene and say, look, that's that's not that's not okay.
00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:32.800
Um so those two things in particular are really are really important when it comes to bullying.
00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:36.239
Um our approach is very much uh an educational one.
00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:52.960
I think you know some of life's biggest lessons, you know, yes, academic success is important, it opens doors certainly for the future, but more importantly, trying to create good human beings, good kind people who are going to go out into the world and and make good decisions.
00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:54.960
That's more important than anything else.
00:42:55.119 --> 00:43:18.719
Um I um I think we have a real opportunity in a school like this, a boarding school like Nareto, to help pupils navigate uh um the teenage years, which are tricky years, um, help them navigate that and and learn how to be kind to each other, learn how to to be inclusive, learn to stand up when they see things not right.
00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:23.119
Sometimes we have to have difficult conversations, and that's part of our job as as well.
00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:25.039
Um, I think it's it's that's important.
00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:35.280
But generally, we adopt an educational approach, and yet sometimes it is a need to, if someone hasn't learned, there might be the need to perhaps think about uh a sanction as well.
00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:37.039
Yeah, no.
00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:48.800
Um you touched on it earlier about um Loreto is quite a small school, um, and you have small class sizes, is it around about sort of 12 to 16 pupils in a class?
00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:51.039
Is that roughly right kind of yeah?
00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:53.840
So we're about to fifty pupils in the school.
00:43:53.920 --> 00:44:03.599
Um our um our in in in the under years up to up to Including GCSEs, the class sizes are roughly 14 in a class.
00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:05.519
That's our average class size.
00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:10.480
When it gets up to A levels, your class size averages around nine.
00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:15.119
So it does, it does get smaller, which means it's really hard to hide.
00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:17.679
It's really hard to get lost in a school of our size.
00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:30.320
And I think I have the great privilege at Loreto of getting to know all the pupils by name and getting to know their parents and getting to know what their interests and hobbies are and seeing them score goals on the on the astral scoring trials and rugby.
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:31.440
It's a real privilege.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:37.760
Yeah, I was gonna because that was gonna lead into what are the main benefits of small class sizes and year groups.
00:44:37.840 --> 00:44:40.000
But I think, yeah, you've sort of touched that.
00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:44.639
Um, with you know, obviously you being able to get to know them, and as you say, people can't hide.
00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:46.880
So um that that's that.
00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:50.480
Is it still the case that Loreto doesn't have a school tie?
00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:54.239
If I remember, is that still yeah, and what was the reasoning behind that?
00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:56.079
Yeah, absolutely.
00:44:56.400 --> 00:45:00.000
Um, so I've just actually been speaking to our new pupils.
00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:03.360
We have we have a record intake this year of 120 new pupils.
00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:05.360
Um, so we're really delighted with that.
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:10.639
But I've just been speaking to them and giving them a history lesson in the chapel, um, a very short one.
00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:12.719
Um, so yes, it is true.
00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:15.119
Our pupils to this day don't wear don't wear ties.
00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:21.440
That was a decision deliberately made by a head, the head he was known as called Healy Hutchinson Armand.
00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:23.679
Um, he was a bit of an eccentric.
00:45:23.840 --> 00:45:27.280
Um when he when he became head, we didn't have a school uniform.
00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:28.719
He liked bright colors.
00:45:29.199 --> 00:45:31.039
So he introduced the red coat.
00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:36.320
Oh, old Laura Tone is very uh uh um quick to say it's not a blazer, it's a coat.
00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:39.199
So he introduced a red coat, which our people still wear today.
00:45:39.519 --> 00:45:43.280
He also believed in team sport being really, really important.
00:45:43.679 --> 00:45:53.599
Um uh so he brought in the the ethos, the school ethos of mind, body, spirit, those three areas being essential to an all-rounded holistic education.
00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:59.199
He believed in team sport and young boys, because we were in all boys' school, um uh being active.
00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:09.679
And at a time in which um the uh boys from aristocratic families would have had to have worn cravats or ties, he said that doesn't make sense, they need to be able to breathe.
00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:11.840
So he did away with ties and cravats.
00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:14.639
And we still we still wear the red coat to this day.
00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:21.760
We still don't wear ties when we are in um when the pupils are in their red and grey, which is our iconic Loretto uniform.
00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:23.119
Yeah, that's great.
00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:25.519
Do do pupils say, oh, they think that's great?
00:46:25.679 --> 00:46:28.480
I can imagine boys loving not wearing a tie.
00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:35.199
They do, but it's lovely meeting new parents and then and then explaining to them um there was actually a deliberate decision made.
00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:40.480
And there are schools who don't wear ties there, but Loreto was almost a trailblazer in in that sense.
00:46:40.880 --> 00:46:42.000
Yeah, I can imagine.
00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:49.280
Also, another unique thing that stands you out from a lot of the Edinburgh schools is that you follow the English curriculum.
00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:54.960
Um, what would you say are the key advantages that brings, you know, compared to the Scottish curriculum?
00:46:55.199 --> 00:46:58.480
Or that's that's a very, very, very good question.
00:46:58.559 --> 00:47:08.320
So we we deliberately follow the A-level, um the A levels and GCSEs, the English curriculum, but because we believe in the the challenge and rigour that that it affords as well.
00:47:08.480 --> 00:47:13.679
Um we offer 17 GCSE subjects, so pupils get to choose.
00:47:13.840 --> 00:47:23.039
Uh obviously, our pupils have to do the core subjects, so they have to do English language um and they and they have to do maths at GCSE, and then they do some of the sciences along that.
00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:29.119
But then they've got a choice um, you know, from the arts across to the sciences to to languages as well.
00:47:29.280 --> 00:47:34.719
At A level, there's a choice of 21 subjects, and we also offer uh B Techs as well.
00:47:34.800 --> 00:47:50.320
We offer B Tech sport and uh B Tech Business as well uh on the side there, um, which are very both very, very popular options, but we we've chosen them because we deliberately follow the English curriculum because of the the challenge and the rigour of the English curriculum.
00:47:51.280 --> 00:47:51.679
Yeah.
00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:56.000
Also, obviously, being uh you're a boarding school, so pupils probably come from all over.
00:47:56.079 --> 00:48:01.039
Where would you say geographically um a lot of the boarding pupils come from?
00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:04.960
Well, and also do you have local families that choose boarding for their children?
00:48:05.360 --> 00:48:06.320
Absolutely, we do.
00:48:06.480 --> 00:48:10.719
So we we are 80% uh Scottish, uh Scottish school.
00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:18.480
So most of our families come from East Lothian, they come from the borders, they come from the north of England as well.
00:48:18.719 --> 00:48:24.320
Um, we we have roughly 26 different nationalities in the school.
00:48:24.719 --> 00:48:32.800
Um and um uh they the the pupils that come to us from from around the world.
00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:39.840
One of the big draws of this of Loreto is our our golf academy, the unique offering there that we've got the golf academy.
00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:41.119
So that's that's really important.
00:48:41.280 --> 00:48:45.199
But pupils come to us and they uh and they can they can be day pupils.
00:48:45.280 --> 00:48:52.239
We do have day pupils in the school, but our ethos is is our our structure of our week is based around a boarding structure.
00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:55.599
We have flexi boarders who come and stay three nights a week.
00:48:55.760 --> 00:49:06.639
We have weekly boarders who come in on a on a Sunday night or a Monday morning, whatever suits modern families, and they go home after their commitments um on a Saturday, which is mainly sport on a Saturday.
00:49:06.800 --> 00:49:09.440
And then we have the full boarders who are here.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:11.119
Um this is their second home.
00:49:11.280 --> 00:49:16.400
Um, we don't close altogether over our um what we call overnight leave weekends.
00:49:16.480 --> 00:49:19.119
Other schools might call them uh leave outs or exeats.
00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:30.159
Our boarding houses remain open because we're aware that for some families who come from Germany or Spain or Mexico, wherever they come from uh to us in the world, it might be a bit far to get home.
00:49:30.239 --> 00:49:32.719
So we we deliberately remain open in those moments.
00:49:32.880 --> 00:49:43.920
But we we are um very cosmopolitan, 26 different nationalities, but but 80% of our of our pupils come from sort of Scotland, north of England.
00:49:45.119 --> 00:49:50.000
What would you say are the core advantages for pupils who board?
00:49:53.039 --> 00:49:58.480
I went to boarding school myself, and so I can speak from from first hand experience, then I've worked in in boarding schools.
00:49:58.559 --> 00:50:05.599
I think it's you make such amazing friendships being at uh being at a boarding school.
00:50:05.760 --> 00:50:10.159
Um I've heard some boarders describe it as it's a permanent sleepover.
00:50:10.719 --> 00:50:27.920
So you um, yes, there's routine to follow, and there's supper, and then you've got prep uh in the evening where you do your homework um until 8:30, but then you've got time to to go out to the uh to the to the school's Astroturf uh and go and play, I don't know, football, tennis, hockey.
00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:33.199
We have all sorts of boarders activities put on in on um on in the evenings as well.
00:50:33.360 --> 00:50:38.239
Some of our staff will come into the boarding houses and and do some cooking in the kitchens as well.
00:50:38.480 --> 00:50:42.480
Um and uh so it's just a chance to forge friendships.
00:50:42.800 --> 00:50:48.559
There's also a chance for some of our older pupils, they'll tap into the expertise of our staff who are on duty in the houses.
00:50:48.800 --> 00:51:02.800
So let's say that they're doing business studies and the business teacher happens to be on duty in one of the houses, they might go across and have a have a have a clinic, uh, an extra lesson with with the business teacher or work in study groups with other pupils as well.
00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:04.960
There's so many advantages to boarding.
00:51:05.119 --> 00:51:13.440
Um but it's really that whole thing of the length of the day, making friendships, uh taking full advantage of all those opportunities that are that are there for you.
00:51:13.760 --> 00:51:14.079
Yeah.
00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:21.599
And what how how would you um say to parents who are not sure if their child would suit boarding?
00:51:21.840 --> 00:51:29.760
What's the are there any tips you could give to parents who are considering boarding but they don't quite know if they should or shouldn't?
00:51:30.159 --> 00:51:35.119
Well, one of the things we would offer parents if they weren't sure is we'd offer the child a taster evening.
00:51:35.280 --> 00:51:37.920
They can come into the school and and and and give it a go.
00:51:38.079 --> 00:51:45.360
We've had pupils who stayed for a couple of nights just to see if they like the routine of of staying and see if see how they feel that they'd they'd settle in.
00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:47.679
So we'd firstly offer that as well.
00:51:47.840 --> 00:51:53.440
Uh I spoke to the new uh new new parents and pupils just last night, welcome them to the school.
00:51:53.519 --> 00:52:02.400
And having gone to boarding school myself, I know um that you know homesick, homesickness is something that that that is quite natural and something that you will experience.
00:52:02.480 --> 00:52:12.239
And the best piece of advice I could give to to any um any parent or any pupils, just keep yourself busy, get out there.
00:52:12.320 --> 00:52:18.480
Uh you know, don't say say yes more than you say no to to those opportunities uh as well.
00:52:18.719 --> 00:52:24.559
I'd also reassure the parents if the parents are asking us just we've got a really good pastoral system here.
00:52:24.719 --> 00:52:38.880
We've got um we've got tutors who who are who our young people meet with every single day, uh, first thing in the morning, uh for for for um where key pieces of information are handed over, then they go off and into their lessons.
00:52:39.039 --> 00:52:45.199
They've got a head of year above that, and the head of year is keeping an eye on sort of the overall interaction in that year group and and patterns.
00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:53.119
And above that, we've got our child protection um officer, our deputy head pastoral, is our is our child protection officer in in the school as well.
00:52:53.280 --> 00:52:58.000
And above that, you've got a senior deputy head, and then you've got me and my family who live on campus.
00:52:58.239 --> 00:53:00.239
And then you've got the house team as well.
00:53:00.480 --> 00:53:07.199
So you've got the house master, house, house mistress, and the assistant house master, mistress, and the and the assistant house manager.
00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:13.840
There are so many people um out there keeping an eye on your son or daughter.
00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:22.400
And if they notice something that they're not sure about, they're gonna raise it, they're gonna or they're gonna check in with um with your son and daughter or pass it on.
00:53:22.719 --> 00:53:23.760
Yeah, yeah.
00:53:23.920 --> 00:53:25.519
Um that's really good to hear.
00:53:25.599 --> 00:53:30.159
And what would you say are the positive impacts of a boarding school for day pupils?
00:53:30.639 --> 00:53:32.559
Is there any benefits for them?
00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:39.280
Absolutely, absolutely there's our day pupils are are fully integrated into our boarding houses.
00:53:39.440 --> 00:53:44.559
This is a change uh which um which I brought in uh a couple of years ago.
00:53:44.800 --> 00:53:50.320
So all our houses are a mixture of day, flexi, weekly, and boarding pupils.
00:53:50.480 --> 00:53:52.559
Um day pupils are fully integrated.
00:53:52.639 --> 00:53:56.960
We encourage day pupils to uh to get involved.
00:53:57.039 --> 00:54:01.440
They're they're invited to um to uh alternative activities.
00:54:01.519 --> 00:54:09.840
I know some of the houses around Christmas, for example, they'll go, they'll go to to um to watch a theatre production or they might go out and have a meal together.
00:54:10.079 --> 00:54:19.280
Day pupils are very much encouraged to to to join in on that and included in in the house system as well, so they feel a part of a part of that as well.
00:54:20.400 --> 00:54:24.000
Um I'm aware of the time that I've got so many questions to ask.
00:54:24.079 --> 00:54:26.880
So I must now dive into your golf academy.
00:54:27.119 --> 00:54:34.480
Um how are pupils selected for that, or how do they, how does that, how is the golf academy working?
00:54:34.719 --> 00:54:37.920
Well, yeah, they they uh just they select us.
00:54:38.159 --> 00:54:47.039
So um we the golf academy, we were the first school in the UK to start a golf academy in the in uh in the 90s.
00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:56.320
Um about 12 years ago, we we built our own purpose-built uh internal uh facility, and it's an amazing facility.
00:54:56.400 --> 00:55:02.159
It's it's got trackman, caveest, puttlab, but I'm not a golfer, but but I've had to learn all these things.
00:55:02.480 --> 00:55:09.360
Um we've got um a shop, we've got a gym, um, it's an amazing facility.
00:55:09.519 --> 00:55:17.840
Um, I think the most important thing to say is we've got four four fantastic um professionals that work full-time in our golf academy.
00:55:17.920 --> 00:55:18.400
That is their job.
00:55:18.480 --> 00:55:21.920
They're part of our common room, like uh an English or a maths teacher is.
00:55:22.079 --> 00:55:29.119
Um and uh and so the the I suppose it's it's what we offer that's quite attractive uh to our parents.
00:55:29.360 --> 00:55:31.119
Our location is fantastic.
00:55:31.440 --> 00:55:33.920
We are on the Gulf Coast.
00:55:34.159 --> 00:55:55.440
Um, so over the road, our pupils will cross the road, and you've got the old course Muscleboro, which is actually the oldest continuous played golf course in the world, and that's sort of the home home golf course, which is just over the road where our pupils will go and play golf, and then they go down uh the golf coast and access a range of of Lynx golf courses which are which are on our doorstep.
00:55:55.599 --> 00:55:57.039
Um, so we're very lucky.
00:55:57.119 --> 00:55:59.840
It's it's the facilities we got, it's our location.
00:55:59.920 --> 00:56:10.559
But I think really importantly, Loretta is about people, and I would highlight the four um professionals uh that we have on our on our staff full-time who coach.
00:56:10.800 --> 00:56:13.280
Pupils can join us of all sorts of abilities.
00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:26.239
We have those who are uh the elites who have uh um single-figure handicaps, they'll be on our top program, our elite program, and they'll perhaps be looking for scholarships to United States universities.
00:56:26.400 --> 00:56:31.199
We have the the golfers, your solid golfers in the middle, and then we got those who sort of want to play socially.
00:56:31.440 --> 00:56:41.840
We even offer a get into golf program uh for boys and and girls, um uh uh and uh which has been really, really uh attractive.
00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:48.000
But the to answer your question, um they they choose us um and hope and our product.
00:56:48.880 --> 00:56:49.599
Fantastic.
00:56:49.760 --> 00:56:58.559
Um so beyond golf, what other extracurricular activities are especially popular, or which ones do you think might surprise parents to learn new offer?
00:57:00.079 --> 00:57:03.280
Well, we have a we have a we have a very popular astronomy club.
00:57:03.440 --> 00:57:11.199
Uh we've got a very uh passionate uh uh head of physics here who who loves this astronomy and is very passionate about STEM.
00:57:11.679 --> 00:57:13.840
Um we so we have astronomy.
00:57:13.920 --> 00:57:23.199
Uh we build a go-kart every single year, which gets raced around the sort of quad area outside here, uh, which is which is which is uh quite fun.
00:57:23.360 --> 00:57:26.239
We have a very active uh dance program.
00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:29.760
Uh we do really well in Model United Nations.
00:57:29.920 --> 00:57:35.360
We we have 60 different activities to choose from uh during the week.
00:57:35.519 --> 00:57:36.800
So it's so broad.
00:57:37.039 --> 00:57:47.679
Um, you know, from from STEM to to ceramics, we have a ceramicist who comes in and helps our uh our pupils uh uh build beautiful things and and fire them.
00:57:47.840 --> 00:57:50.320
Uh so we got we got that as well.
00:57:50.480 --> 00:57:56.000
Um so it's so broad, um but a range of 60 different things.
00:57:56.320 --> 00:57:56.960
Wow.
00:57:57.119 --> 00:58:07.440
Um so this whole sort of series of podcasts is obviously promoting the independent school open days, and um you have uh senior school open day coming up on the 26th of September.
00:58:07.599 --> 00:58:10.559
Um and I think then it's the junior schools in October, isn't it?
00:58:10.639 --> 00:58:12.079
That uh we run that.
00:58:12.320 --> 00:58:21.599
So Saturday, the 26th of September is is the senior school open day, and the junior school open day is on the afternoon of Friday, the 2nd of October.
00:58:21.840 --> 00:58:32.320
What's lovely about it is we always get our pupils to show parents around, and I think um the pupils are the best advocate for the school, so they will give you a tour and you get a little flavour for for what you want.
00:58:32.400 --> 00:58:36.639
But I would stress that we we we like to be individualized in our approach to parents.
00:58:36.719 --> 00:58:42.239
If if parents would like to to come in and have a have a have a meeting to start off with, we can do that.
00:58:42.320 --> 00:58:48.480
Or if they'd like a taste today for for their son or daughter, we can facilitate uh that as well.
00:58:48.639 --> 00:58:53.440
So we we you know there's no one uh one kind of approach for every every family.
00:58:53.760 --> 00:58:54.079
No.
00:58:54.320 --> 00:58:58.079
So people who do come to your open day, what what can they expect?
00:58:58.239 --> 00:59:00.960
What's the format of the morning um when they come?
00:59:01.199 --> 00:59:02.159
Yeah, so on Saturday.
00:59:02.639 --> 00:59:13.920
In the senior school open day, it would start off with with just a meeting and a coffee, and then we we would uh we would give you a tour with some of our six-form pupils who would show you around our beautiful campus.
00:59:14.239 --> 00:59:24.719
It would um sort of draw to a close in the chapel where there'd be a short address uh by me about about Loretto and why I choose Loreto.
00:59:24.960 --> 00:59:29.599
And then after that, we offer uh parents an opportunity to see what the food is like at Loretto as well.
00:59:29.760 --> 00:59:32.639
Um, so we've got a wonderful patron team here.
00:59:32.800 --> 00:59:41.599
Um, and uh so we give them an opportunity to to have some lunch with us and sit down with staff and ask some of our teaching staff what is Loreto like.
00:59:41.679 --> 00:59:43.760
Um so that's what they can look forward to.
00:59:44.079 --> 00:59:52.719
And what sort of I mean, people look quite far ahead, I presume, you know, if they're looking at the senior school, they might have children who are quite young, maybe even still, and they're looking, yeah.
00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:55.440
So it's not just people starting saying it.
00:59:55.840 --> 00:59:58.639
It's one of the biggest decisions that a family will make.
00:59:58.719 --> 01:00:01.280
Um, and it's you know, it's important that they get it right.
01:00:01.360 --> 01:00:07.840
You know, every child is different, and and and um, you know, the most important thing is that a child is happy.
01:00:07.920 --> 01:00:10.960
Uh, if child is happy, everything else will fall into place.
01:00:11.199 --> 01:00:16.480
So um making sure your child will be happy and you've chosen the school where your child will be happy is the most most important thing.
01:00:16.639 --> 01:00:19.039
So I'd say start, you can never start too early.
01:00:19.360 --> 01:00:21.039
Yeah, that's a good tip.
01:00:21.360 --> 01:00:28.639
Um, yeah, so now is there anything that I haven't asked you that you think is important for people to know about Loreto?
01:00:30.400 --> 01:00:35.519
I think the the thing that I would touch on is uh come come and visit.
01:00:35.679 --> 01:00:38.400
We are we, you know, people talk about a community.
01:00:38.639 --> 01:00:44.880
Some people take that a step forward further and say that we are more like a family at Loreto.
01:00:45.039 --> 01:00:46.480
It's very much a family feel here.
01:00:46.639 --> 01:00:49.199
We want our we want our families to be involved.
01:00:49.280 --> 01:01:00.400
We have an active um uh uh group called the Friends of Loreto, which is really important, um, in which we invite families in to come and have breakfast with us and come and have come and have drinks events with us.
01:01:00.480 --> 01:01:13.920
We encourage our parents to come and support our sports program, uh our sports fixtures, our plays, uh to join what we call the Red Wall, which is where our pupils go and watch um uh productions or go and watch sports fixtures.
01:01:14.000 --> 01:01:15.039
We call that the red wall.
01:01:15.119 --> 01:01:20.239
So we encourage parents to be a part of the school just as much as we encourage our young people to be part of the school.
01:01:20.559 --> 01:01:22.719
Yeah, so no, that is excellent.
01:01:22.960 --> 01:01:24.880
Um, well, thank you very much.
01:01:25.039 --> 01:01:27.280
As I said, I'm trying to stick to my 30 minutes.
01:01:27.440 --> 01:01:38.639
I think you have given us um a really good insight to um Loreto, and I'm sure you've sparked lots of interest for parents, and they will come and see for themselves on your rump and day.
01:01:38.800 --> 01:01:41.840
So, Pete, thank you very much for coming on the podcast.
01:01:42.480 --> 01:01:43.519
Thank you so much for your time.
01:01:43.840 --> 01:01:44.159
Goodbye.
01:01:44.480 --> 01:01:44.960
Thank you.
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:06.799
Hello, I'm Nikki Miller, host of the School Guide Edinburgh, a podcast born from the Nursery and School Guide Edinburgh magazine.
00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:11.759
This first series is coming out to coincide with the Independent School Open Days.
00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:21.280
My guest this week is Pete Richardson, head of Loreto School, a co-ed boarding school with nursery and day pupils aged 3 to 18.
00:00:21.519 --> 00:00:28.559
Situated in Muslborough in East Lothian, just southside of Edinburgh, the school has fewer than 500 pupils.
00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:35.600
It offers amazing facilities, including a top-class golf academy, and follows the English curriculum and exams.
00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:43.520
They have an open day for the senior school on Saturday, the 26th of September, and for the junior school in October.
00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:48.719
So let's find out from Pete why Loreto should be added to your Umpen Day list.
00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:50.799
Hello, Pete.
00:00:50.880 --> 00:00:55.039
Thanks for joining us today on this busy week, first week back to school.
00:00:55.520 --> 00:01:00.640
Before we start, could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into education?
00:01:01.679 --> 00:01:03.600
Thank you very much for having me.
00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:05.359
Lovely to see you.
00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:14.000
So I um am South African-born, um, but I started teaching English and history uh fresh out of university at the age of 21.
00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:19.359
Um I attended boarding schools and have worked in boarding schools my entire career.
00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:26.560
Um my mum was the principal of a township school in our hometown in um in South Africa.
00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:33.200
Uh, and my dad was a Methodist minister, but he was the head of theology uh at the University of Kusula Natal.
00:01:33.359 --> 00:01:35.680
So essentially he was also in education.
00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:48.159
Um I've always loved literature, I've always loved history, um, but was drawn to a career in education uh because I felt it was about um nurturing young people and the opportunity to shape lives.
00:01:48.400 --> 00:01:51.359
Um so that that's where I've come from.
00:01:51.439 --> 00:02:00.640
I had inspirational teachers at boarding school um as well, and I suppose they shaped uh shaped me or had a part to play in shaping me and the career that I've chosen.
00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:02.239
Oh wow, yeah.
00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:04.799
You've got a lovely South African accent, I might say.
00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:07.040
I do like that accent.
00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:09.680
Um so when did you become head at Loretto?
00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:10.560
When did you join?
00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:13.680
I I'm in my third year of headship now.
00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:18.000
So I became head in August uh 24.
00:02:18.240 --> 00:02:20.000
So uh two years ago.
00:02:20.159 --> 00:02:24.479
Um uh I was the senior deputy head here at Loreto before that.
00:02:24.639 --> 00:02:34.719
Um and if I go back a little bit further in my history, I I spent 11 years up at Gordonston, where I was a housemaster, the child protection coordinator, the assistant head of boarding.
00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:38.719
Um I was also at Workshop College before that for six years.
00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:44.400
Uh um and uh I was a housemaster there, but also teaching English and history.
00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:45.360
Oh, right.
00:02:45.520 --> 00:02:50.800
So you've had a long history through um history, uh history, uh, through boarding schools.
00:02:51.039 --> 00:02:54.240
Um and do you have children at the school as well?
00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:59.360
Yeah, so the Richardson family is very much um immersed in the life of Loreto.
00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:06.000
So uh firstly, my wife Mel is also South African, uh South African born, and we met in South Africa.
00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:15.919
She works in the junior school uh uh and administration, but she has a really important role uh in supporting me uh and being a uh a pillar of strength for me as well.
00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:25.280
But I've got two two children, both are Loretonians, so I've got uh Jenny, who's just finished her GCSEs and is about to embark on A levels.
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:33.759
Uh, she'll be back in school uh tomorrow, and Fergus, who is is 14 um and is about to start GCSEs, uh year 10.
00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.120
We call a fourth form here.
00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:38.400
Well, you've got the fun years then to come.
00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:40.719
Yeah, exactly.
00:03:40.800 --> 00:03:41.520
Yeah, exactly.
00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:47.199
Um so how would you describe your leadership style and what values guide you most as head?
00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:50.560
That's a really good question.
00:03:50.960 --> 00:03:55.759
Um my leadership style is very much collaborative and open door.
00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:01.759
I talk to the staff and I talk to the pupils and I talk to the parents about an open door policy um here at Lorette.
00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.319
So I think the size of the school lends itself to that.
00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.520
That staff will often come to my door and say, Have you got 30 seconds?
00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:13.759
And parents often ask for appointments, and and even some of the pupils will say, Sir, can we can we have a chat?
00:04:13.840 --> 00:04:16.399
So that open door collaborative policy.
00:04:16.480 --> 00:04:20.319
So I like to be approachable, I like to be friendly uh as well.
00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:32.160
Um, my values when I arrived here were the Richardson rules, and and and those have been I've tried to sort of uh force down my parent my children's throats, which is uh be honest, be kind, do your best.
00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:45.279
Um, but we as a school, uh one of the things I'm really proud of is a piece of work we did in my first year of headship is we um we surveyed the school and we asked them, what do you think it is to be a modern Lauratonian?
00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:51.680
And we came up with the values uh uh uh kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:56.560
And those are those are the four values that guide the school.
00:04:56.639 --> 00:05:00.800
Um, and all the decisions are made right up to my desk, right up to SLT.
00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:08.319
Um, and I always say to the say to the pupils and the parents and the staff, the most important one there is that first one that comes first for a reason, and that's kindness.
00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:12.319
Um so we try to be a kind and inclusive school as well.
00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:13.279
Yeah.
00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:17.920
Um, and do you still teach at any time, or are you too busy?
00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:19.199
Obviously, it's ahead.
00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:22.959
I I I I wish I had time to teach.
00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:24.160
I I do miss it.
00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:28.560
It's it's one of the reasons it's the reason I went into education is spending time with young people.
00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:31.439
I've tried to find different ways of spending time with young people.
00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:39.920
So that is through being at the gate every morning and greeting the day pupils as they arrive and saying hi to parents and recognizing their cars.
00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:45.439
Um, and uh, and then I go and always stand outside the classroom area, it's called the Ash Court.
00:05:45.519 --> 00:05:49.360
I always go there and stand and try and have conversations with pupils who pass by.
00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:52.639
But I do I do miss the classroom uh a lot.
00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:54.560
Um it's it's in my blood.
00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:56.160
Yeah, I'm sure.
00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:01.439
Um, so what is would you say is your approach to discipline and also bullying?
00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:10.399
I think the the background to it all is is we've got to have a proactive approach.
00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:15.120
And the proactive approach is sticking to our values of of kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:17.120
And we constantly talk to the pupils about that.
00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:24.000
So in assemblies, uh which we call doubles here, uh, we will talk about the values.
00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:29.040
We'll always say to I always say to the pupils, be kind in your thoughts, your words, and your deeds.
00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:31.680
If you've got nothing nice to say, try not to say it.
00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:35.279
Always be inclusive, look out for that pupil who's being left out.
00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:39.199
Um so a proactive approach in that sense.
00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:46.639
In terms of the bullying, um, we I also talk about having integrity, the the having the strength of character.
00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:56.720
If you do see something unkind or someone, something that you feel is not right, having the strength of character to actually intervene and say, look, that's that's not that's not okay.
00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:04.000
Um so those two things in particular are really are really important when it comes to bullying.
00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:07.519
Um, our approach is very much uh an educational one.
00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:26.160
I think you know, some of life's biggest lessons, you know, yes, academic success is important, it opens doors certainly for the future, but more importantly, trying to create good human beings, good kind people who are going to go out into the world and and make good decisions, that's more important than anything else.
00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:49.920
Um, and so um I um I think we have a real opportunity in a school like this, a boarding school like Loreto, to help pupils navigate uh um the teenage years, which are tricky years, um, help them navigate that and and learn how to be kind to each other, learn how to to be inclusive, look, learn to stand up when they see things not right.
00:07:50.240 --> 00:07:54.399
Sometimes we have to have difficult conversations, that's part of our job as as well.
00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.319
Um, I think it's it's that's important.
00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.959
But generally we adopt an educational approach.
00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:06.480
And yes, sometimes there is a need to, if someone hasn't learned, there might be the need to perhaps think about uh a sanction as well.
00:08:06.800 --> 00:08:07.199
Mm-hmm.
00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:08.319
Yeah, no.
00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:20.000
Um you touched on it earlier about um you know Loreto is quite a small school, um, and you have small class sizes, is it around about so 12 to 16 pupils in a class?
00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:21.759
Is that roughly right kind of?
00:08:22.160 --> 00:08:25.040
Yeah, so we're about 450 pupils in the school.
00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:34.799
Um our um our in in at in the younger years up to up to including GCSEs, the class sizes are roughly 14 in a class.
00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:36.720
That's our average class size.
00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:41.759
When it gets up to A levels, um your class size averages around nine.
00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:48.879
So it does it does get smaller, which means it's really hard to to to hide, it's really hard to get lost in a in a school of our size.
00:08:48.960 --> 00:09:01.519
And I think I have the great privilege at Loreto of getting to know all the pupils by name and getting to know their parents and getting to know what their their interests and hobbies are and seeing them score goals on the on the astral scoring trials and rugby.
00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:02.320
It's a real privilege.
00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:04.879
You follow the English curriculum.
00:09:05.039 --> 00:09:10.639
Um, what would you say are the key advantages that brings, you know, compared to the Scottish curriculum?
00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:14.080
Or that's that's a very, very, very good question.
00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:23.919
So we we deliberately follow the A-level, um, the A levels and GCSEs, the English curriculum, but because we believe in the the challenge and rigour that that it affords as well.
00:09:24.080 --> 00:09:29.360
Um we offer uh 17 GCSE subjects, so pupils get to choose.
00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:38.720
Uh obviously, our pupils have to do the core subjects, so they have to do English language um and they and they have to do maths at GCSE, and then they do some of the sciences along that.
00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:44.799
But then they've got a choice um, you know, from the arts across to the sciences to to languages as well.
00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:50.399
At A level, there's a choice of 21 subjects, and we also offer uh B Techs as well.
00:09:50.480 --> 00:10:06.000
We offer B Tech Sport and uh B Tech Business as well uh on the side there, um, which are very both very, very popular options, but we we've chosen them because we deliberately follow the English curriculum because of the the challenge and the rigor of the English curriculum.
00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:07.360
Yeah.
00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:11.679
Also, obviously, being uh you're a boarding school, so pupils probably come from all over.
00:10:11.759 --> 00:10:16.720
Where would you say geographically um a lot of the boarding pupils come from?
00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.559
Or and also do you have local families that choose boarding for their children?
00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.000
Absolutely, we do.
00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:26.399
So we we are 80% uh Scottish, uh Scottish school.
00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:34.080
So most of our families come from East Lothian, they come from the borders, they come from the north of England as well.
00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:40.000
Um we we have roughly 26 different nationalities in the school.
00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:55.519
Um and um uh they the the pupils that come to us from from around the world, one of the big draws of this of Loreto is our our golf academy, the unique offering there that we got the golf academy.
00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:56.799
So that's that's really important.
00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:00.879
But pupils come to us and they uh and they can they can be day pupils.
00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:07.919
We do have day pupils in the school, but our ethos is is our our structure of our week is based around a boarding structure.
00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:11.279
We have flexi boarders who come and stay three nights a week.
00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:22.320
We have weekly boarders who come in on a on a Sunday night or a Monday morning, whatever suits modern families, and they go home after their commitments um on a Saturday, which is mainly sport on a Saturday.
00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:25.039
And then we have the full boarders who are here.
00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.799
Um, this is their second home.
00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:32.080
Um, we don't close altogether over our um what we call overnight leave weekends.
00:11:32.159 --> 00:11:34.720
Other schools might call them uh leave outs or exats.
00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:45.840
Our boarding houses remain open because we're aware that for some families who come from Germany or Spain or Mexico, wherever they come from uh to us in the world, it might be a bit far to get home.
00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:48.399
So we we deliberately remain open in those moments.
00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:59.600
But we we are um very cosmopolitan, 26 different nationalities, but but 80% of our of our pupils come from sort of Scotland, north of England.
00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:05.759
What would you say are the core advantages for pupils who board?
00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:14.159
I went to boarding school myself, and so I can speak from from first hand experience, then I've worked in in boarding schools.
00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:21.200
I think it's you make such amazing friendships being at uh being at a boarding school.
00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:25.840
Um, I've heard some boarders describe it as it's like permanent sleepover.
00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:43.519
So you um, yes, there's routine to follow, and there's supper, and then you've got prep uh in the evening where you do your homework um until 8:30, but then you've got time to to go out to the uh to the to the school's astroturf uh and go and play, I don't know, football, tennis, hockey.
00:12:43.679 --> 00:12:48.879
We have all sorts of boarders activities put on in on um on in the evenings as well.
00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:53.919
Some of our staff will come into the boarding houses and and do some cooking in the kitchens as well.
00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:58.159
Um and uh so it's just a chance to forge friendships.
00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:04.240
There's also a chance for some of our older pupils, they'll tap into the expertise of our staff who are on duty in the houses.
00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:18.480
So let's say that they're doing business studies and the business teacher happens to be on duty in one of the houses, they might go across and have a have a have a clinic, uh, an extra lesson with with the business teacher or work in study groups with other pupils as well.
00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.639
There's so many advantages to boarding.
00:13:20.720 --> 00:13:29.120
Um but it's really that whole thing of the length of day, making friendships, uh taking full advantage of all those opportunities that are that are there for you.
00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:29.759
Yeah.
00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:37.279
And what how how would you um say to parents who are not sure if their child would suit boarding?
00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:45.440
What's the are there any tips you could give to parents who are considering boarding but they don't quite know if they should or shouldn't?
00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:50.720
Well, one of the things we would offer parents if they weren't sure is we'd offer the child a taster evening.
00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.600
They can come into the school and and and and give it a go.
00:13:53.679 --> 00:14:01.039
We've had pupils who stayed for a couple of nights just to see if they like the routine of of staying and see if see how they feel that they'd they'd settle in.
00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:03.360
So we'd firstly offer that as well.
00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:09.120
Uh I spoke to the new uh new new parents and pupils just last night, welcome them to the school.
00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:18.000
And having gone to boarding school myself, I know um that you know homesick, homesickness is something that that that is quite natural and something that you will experience.
00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:27.919
And the best piece of advice I could give to to any um um any parent or any pupils, just keep yourself busy, get out there.
00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:34.159
Uh, you know, don't say say yes more than you say no to to those opportunities uh as well.
00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:40.159
I'd also reassure the parents, if the parents are asking us, just we've got a really good pastoral system here.
00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:54.559
We've got um we've got tutors who who are who our young people meet with every single day, first thing in the morning, uh for for for um where key piece of information are handed over, then they go off and into their lessons.
00:14:54.720 --> 00:15:00.799
They've got a head of year above that, and the head of year is keeping an eye on sort of the overall interaction in that year group and and patterns.
00:15:00.879 --> 00:15:08.799
And above that, we've got our child protection um officer, our deputy head pastoral, is our is our child protection officer in in the school as well.
00:15:08.960 --> 00:15:13.679
And above that, you've got a senior deputy head, and then you've got me and my family who live on campus.
00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:15.919
And then you've got the house team as well.
00:15:16.080 --> 00:15:22.879
So you've got the house master, house, house mistress, and the assistant house master, mistress, and the and the assistant house manager.
00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:29.519
There are so many people um out there keeping an eye on your son or daughter.
00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:38.080
And if they notice something that they're not sure about, they're gonna raise it, they're gonna or they're gonna check in with um with your son and daughter or pass it on.
00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:39.440
Yeah, yeah.
00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:41.120
Um that's really good to hear.
00:15:41.279 --> 00:15:45.840
And what would you say are the positive impacts of a boarding school for day pupils?
00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:48.159
Is there any benefits to them?
00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:54.960
So absolutely, there's our day pupils are are fully integrated into our boarding houses.
00:15:55.120 --> 00:16:00.159
This is a change uh which um which I brought in uh a couple of years ago.
00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:06.000
So all our houses are a mixture of day, flexi, weekly, and boarding pupils.
00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:08.240
Um, day pupils are fully integrated.
00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:12.559
We encourage day pupils to uh to get involved.
00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:17.120
They're they're invited to um to uh alternative activities.
00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:25.519
I know some of the houses around Christmas, for example, they'll go, they'll go to to um to watch a theatre production or they might go out and have a meal together.
00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:34.960
Day pupils are very much encouraged to to join in on that are included in in the house system as well, so they feel a part of a part of that as well.
00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:39.679
Um I'm aware of the time that I've got so many questions to ask.
00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:42.559
So I must now dive into your golf academy.
00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:50.159
Um how are pupils selected for that or how do they how does that how is the golf academy working?
00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.600
Well, yeah, they they uh just they select us.
00:16:53.840 --> 00:17:02.639
So um we the golf academy, we were the first school in the UK to start a a golf academy in the in uh in the 90s.
00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:11.920
Um about 12 years ago, we we built our own purpose-built uh internal uh facility, and it's an amazing facility.
00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:17.839
It's it's got trackman, cave, putlab, but I'm not a golfer, but but I've had to learn all these things.
00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:24.960
Um we've got um a shop, we've got a gym, um, it's an amazing facility.
00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:33.519
Um, I think the most important thing to say is we've got four four fantastic um professionals that work full-time in our golf academy.
00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.079
That is their job.
00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:37.599
They're part of our common room, like uh an English or a math teacher is.
00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:44.799
Um and uh and so the the I suppose it's it's what we offer that's quite attractive uh to our parents.
00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.720
Our location is fantastic.
00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.599
We are on the Gulf Coast.
00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:58.000
Um, so over the road, our pupils will cross the road, and you've got the old course Musselboro, which is actually the oldest continuous played golf course in the world.
00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:11.119
And that's sort of the home home golf course, which is just over the road where our pupils will go and play golf, and then they go down uh the golf coast and access a range of of links golf courses which are which are on on our doorstep.
00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:12.640
Um, so we're very lucky.
00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.519
It's it's the facilities we got, it's our location.
00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:26.240
But I think really importantly, Loretta's about people, and I would highlight the four um professionals uh that we have on our on our staff full-time who coach.
00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:28.960
Pupils can join us of all sorts of abilities.
00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:41.839
We have those who are uh the elites who have uh um single-figure handicaps, they'll be on our top program, our elite program, and they'll perhaps be looking for scholarships to United States universities.
00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:46.880
We have the the golfers who are solid golfers in the middle, and then we get those who sort of want to play socially.
00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:57.519
We even offer a get into golf program uh for boys and and girls, um uh uh and uh which has been really, really uh attractive.
00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:03.680
But the to answer your question, um they they choose us um and hope and our product.
00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.279
Fantastic.
00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:14.079
Um so beyond golf, what other extracurricular activities are especially popular, or which ones do you think might surprise parents to learn new offer?
00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:18.960
Well, we have a we have a we have a very popular astronomy club.
00:19:19.039 --> 00:19:26.880
Uh we've got a very uh passionate uh uh head of physics here who who loves this astronomy and is very passionate about STEM.
00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:29.519
Um we so we have astronomy.
00:19:29.599 --> 00:19:38.880
Uh we build a go-kart every single year, which gets raced around the sort of quad area outside here, uh, which is which is which is uh quite fun.
00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.839
We have a very active uh dance program.
00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.440
Uh we do really well in Model United Nations.
00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:51.039
We we have 60 different activities to choose from uh during the week.
00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:52.480
So it's so broad.
00:19:52.720 --> 00:20:03.279
Um, you know, from from STEM to to ceramics, we have a ceramicist who comes in and helps our uh our pupils uh uh build beautiful things and and fire them.
00:20:03.519 --> 00:20:06.000
Uh so we got we got that as well.
00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:11.599
Um so it's so broad, um but a range of 60 different things.
00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:12.559
Wow.
00:20:12.799 --> 00:20:23.119
Um so this whole sort of series of podcasts is obviously promoting the independent school open days, and um you have uh senior school open day coming up on the 26th of September.
00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:26.240
Um and I think then it's the junior schools in October, isn't it?
00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:27.680
That uh we run that.
00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:37.279
So Saturday, the 26th of September is is the senior school open day, and the junior school open day is on the afternoon of Friday, the 2nd of October.
00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:48.000
What's lovely about it is we always get our pupils to show parents around, and I think um the pupils are the best advocate for the school, so they will give you a tour and you get a little flavour for for what you want.
00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:52.240
But I would stress that we we we like to be individualized in our approach to parents.
00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:57.920
If if parents would like to come in and have a have a have a meeting to start off with, we can do that.
00:20:58.000 --> 00:21:04.160
Or if they'd like a taste today for for their son or daughter, we can facilitate uh that as well.
00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:09.039
So we we you know there's no one uh one kind of approach for every every family.
00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:13.759
No, so people who do come to your open day, what what can they expect?
00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.640
What's the format of the morning um when they come?
00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.839
Yes on Saturday.
00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:29.599
In the senior school open day, it it would start off with with just a meeting and a coffee, and then we would uh we would give you a tour with some of our six-form pupils who would show you around our beautiful campus.
00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:40.400
It would um sort of draw to a close in the chapel where there'd be a short address uh by me about about Loretto and why I choose Loretto.
00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:45.279
And then after that, we offer uh parents an opportunity to see what the food is like at Loreto as well.
00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:48.319
Um so we've got a wonderful patron team here.
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:57.200
Um and uh so we give them an opportunity to to have some lunch with us and sit down with staff and ask some of our teaching staff what is Loreto like?
00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.440
Um so that's what they can look forward to.
00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:08.400
What sort of I mean people look quite far ahead, I presume, you know, if they're looking at the senior school, they might have children who are quite young, maybe even still and they're looking, yeah.
00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:11.200
So it's not just people start saying it.
00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:14.319
Family will make.
00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.960
Um you know, it's important that they get it right.
00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:23.519
You know, every child is different and and and um you know the most important thing is that a child is happy.
00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:26.640
Uh, if a child is happy, everything else will fall into place.
00:22:26.880 --> 00:22:32.160
So um making sure your child will be happy and you've chosen the school, will your child be happy is the most important thing.
00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.720
So I'd say start, you can never start too early.
00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.720
Yeah, that's a good tip.
00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:44.160
Um, yeah, so now is there anything that I haven't asked you that you think is important for people to know about Loretta?
00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:51.200
I think the the thing that I would touch on is uh come come and visit.
00:22:51.279 --> 00:23:00.559
We are we you know, people talk about community, some people take that a step forward further and say that we are more like a family at Loretta.
00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:02.160
It's very much a family feel here.
00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:04.880
We want our we want our families to be involved.
00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:16.079
We have an active um uh uh group called the Friends of Loretta, which are really important, um, in which we invite families in to come and have breakfast with us and come and have come and have drinks events with us.
00:23:16.160 --> 00:23:29.599
We encourage our parents to come and support our sports program, uh our sports fixtures, our plays, uh to join what we call the Red Wall, which is where our pupils go and watch um uh productions or go and watch sports fixtures.
00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.720
We call that the Red Wall.
00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:35.920
So we encourage parents to be a part of the school just as much as we encourage our young people to be part of the school.
00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.400
Yeah, so no, that's excellent.
00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:40.559
Um, well, thank you very much.
00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:42.960
As I said, I'm trying to stick to my 30 minutes.
00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:54.319
I think you have given us um a really good insight to um Loretto, and I'm sure you've sparked lots of interest for parents, and they will come and see for themselves on your rump and day.
00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:57.440
So Pete, thank you very much for coming on the podcast.
00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:00.480
Thank you.
00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:13.920
If you'd like to get in touch with the show, email me at schoolguidepod at email.com or follow me on Instagram at Nutshrimschool.com.uk.
00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:20.319
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe on your preferred podcast platform and leave a review.
00:24:20.480 --> 00:24:23.680
A five-star review helps others find the podcast.
00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:29.519
I'll be back next Wednesday with another independent school head, so hopefully see you next week.
00:36:19.599 --> 00:36:23.840
Thanks for joining us today on this busy week, first week back to school.
00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:29.360
Um, before we start, could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into education?
00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:32.320
Thank you very much uh for having me.
00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:34.079
Uh lovely to lovely to see you.
00:36:34.159 --> 00:36:42.719
So I um am South African born, um, but I started teaching English and history uh fresh out of university at the age of 21.
00:36:42.960 --> 00:36:48.159
Um uh I attended boarding schools and have worked in boarding schools my entire career.
00:36:48.480 --> 00:37:01.920
Um my mum was the principal of a township school uh in our hometown in um in South Africa, uh, and my dad was a Methodist minister, uh, but he was the head of theology uh at the University of Cousin of itself.
00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:04.320
So essentially he was also in education.
00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:16.960
Um I've always loved literature, I've always loved history, um, but was drawn to a career in education uh because I felt it was about um nurturing young people and the opportunity to shape lives.
00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:20.079
Um so that that's where I've come from.
00:37:20.159 --> 00:37:29.360
I had inspirational teachers at boarding school um as well, and I suppose they shaped uh shaped me or had a part to play in shaping me and the career that I've chosen.
00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:33.519
Oh wow, yeah, you've got a lovely South African accent, I say.
00:37:34.480 --> 00:37:35.760
I do like that accent.
00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:38.320
Um so when did you become head at Loreto?
00:37:38.559 --> 00:37:39.360
When did you join?
00:37:39.920 --> 00:37:42.400
I I'm in my third year of headship now.
00:37:42.559 --> 00:37:48.800
So I became head in August uh 24, so uh two years ago.
00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:53.280
Um I was the senior deputy head director before that.
00:37:53.360 --> 00:38:03.519
Um and if I go back a little bit further in my history, I I spent 11 years up at Gordonston where I was a housemaster, the child protection coordinator, the assistant head of boarding.
00:38:03.599 --> 00:38:07.519
Um I was also worked off college before that for six years.
00:38:07.599 --> 00:38:13.199
Uh um and uh I was a housemaster there, but also teaching English and history.
00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:19.599
Wow, so you've had a long history through um history, uh history, uh through boarding schools.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:23.039
Um and do you have children at the school as well?
00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:28.159
Yeah, so it's very much um immersed in the life of Loreto.
00:38:28.719 --> 00:38:34.800
So uh firstly, my wife Mel is also South African, uh South African born, and we met in South Africa.
00:38:34.960 --> 00:38:44.719
She works in the junior school, uh an administration, which has a really important role uh in supporting me uh and being a uh a pillar of strength for me as well.
00:38:44.800 --> 00:38:48.559
But I've got two two children, both are Lauretonians.
00:38:48.639 --> 00:38:54.000
So I've got uh Jenny, who's just finished her GTSEs and is about to embark on A-levels.
00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:56.400
Uh she'll be back in school uh tomorrow.
00:38:56.480 --> 00:39:03.840
And Fergus, who is is 14 um and is about to start GCSEs uh in a 10 called platform, yeah.
00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.159
Well, you've got the fun years then.
00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.440
Yeah, exactly.
00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.239
Yeah, exactly.
00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:15.920
Um so how would you describe your leadership style and what values guide you most as Ted?
00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:19.280
That's a really good question.
00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:24.480
Um my leadership style is very much collaborative and open door.
00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:30.480
I talk to the staff and I talk to the pupils and I talk to the parents about an open door policy at the rest.
00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:33.119
So I think the title school lends itself to that.
00:39:33.280 --> 00:39:36.320
That staff will often come to my door and say, Have you got 30 seconds?
00:39:36.559 --> 00:39:42.480
And parents often ask for appointments, and and even some of the pupils will say, So can we can we have a chat?
00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:45.199
So that open door collaborative policy.
00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:49.039
So I like to be approachable, I like to be friendly uh as well.
00:39:49.519 --> 00:40:00.880
Um my values when I arrived here were the Richardson rules, and and and those have been I've tried to sort of uh force down my parent my children's jokes, which is uh be honest, be kind, do your best.
00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:14.079
Um but we as a school, uh one of the things I'm really proud of as a piece of work we did in my first year of headship is we um we surveyed the school and we asked them what do you think it is to be a modern Lauritonian?
00:40:14.159 --> 00:40:20.320
And we came up with the values uh uh uh kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:25.280
And those are those are the four values that guide the school.
00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:29.599
Um, and all the decisions are made right up to my desk, right up to SLT.
00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:37.119
Um always say that say the pupils and the parents and the staff, the most important one there is that first one that comes first to reason, and that's kindness.
00:40:37.280 --> 00:40:41.039
Um, so we try to be a kind and inclusive school as well.
00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:42.079
Yeah.
00:40:42.320 --> 00:40:46.639
Um, and do you still teach at any time, or are you too busy?
00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:48.079
Obviously, it's ahead.
00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:51.760
I I I I wish I had time to teach.
00:40:51.920 --> 00:40:52.960
I I do miss it.
00:40:53.119 --> 00:40:57.280
It's it's one of the reasons it's the reason I went into education, is spending time with young people.
00:40:57.519 --> 00:41:08.559
Well, I've tried to find different ways of spending time with young people, so that is through being at the gate every morning and greeting the day pupils as they arrive and saying hi to parents and recognizing their cast.
00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:14.159
Um and uh and then I go and always stand outside the classroom area, it's called the Ash Court.
00:41:14.239 --> 00:41:18.159
I always go there and stand and try and have conversations with pupils who pass by.
00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:21.440
But I do I do miss the classroom uh a lot.
00:41:21.599 --> 00:41:23.360
Um it's it's in my blood.
00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:24.880
Yeah, I'm sure.
00:41:25.119 --> 00:41:30.239
Um, so what would you say is your approach to discipline and also bullying?
00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:39.199
I think uh the the background to all this is we've got to have a proactive approach.
00:41:39.280 --> 00:41:43.920
And the proactive approach is sticking to our values of kindness, integrity, loyalty, and tenacity.
00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:45.920
And we constantly talk to the pupils about that.
00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:52.800
So in in assemblies uh which we call doubles here, we will talk about the values.
00:41:52.880 --> 00:41:57.760
We'll always say to I always say to the pupils, be kind in your thoughts, your words, and your deeds.
00:41:57.920 --> 00:42:00.400
If you've got nothing nice to say, try not to say it.
00:42:00.719 --> 00:42:04.000
Always be encouraged to look up for that pupil who's being left out.
00:42:04.239 --> 00:42:07.920
Um so a proactive approach in that sense.
00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:15.440
In terms of bullying, um, we also talk about having integrity, having the strength of character.
00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:25.519
If you do see something unkind or someone, something that you feel is not right, having strength of character to actually intervene and say, look, that's that's not that's not okay.
00:42:25.679 --> 00:42:32.800
Um so those two things in particular are really are really important when it comes to bullying.
00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:36.239
Um our approach is very much uh an educational one.
00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:52.960
I think you know some of life's biggest lessons, you know, yes, academic success is important, it opens doors certainly for the future, but more importantly, trying to create good human beings, good kind people who are going to go out into the world and and make good decisions.
00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:54.960
That's more important than anything else.
00:42:55.119 --> 00:43:18.719
Um I um I think we have a real opportunity in a school like this, a boarding school like Nareto, to help pupils navigate uh um the teenage years, which are tricky years, um, help them navigate that and and learn how to be kind to each other, learn how to to be inclusive, learn to stand up when they see things not right.
00:43:18.960 --> 00:43:23.119
Sometimes we have to have difficult conversations, and that's part of our job as as well.
00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:25.039
Um, I think it's it's that's important.
00:43:25.119 --> 00:43:35.280
But generally, we adopt an educational approach, and yet sometimes it is a need to, if someone hasn't learned, there might be the need to perhaps think about uh a sanction as well.
00:43:36.159 --> 00:43:37.039
Yeah, no.
00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:48.800
Um you touched on it earlier about um Loreto is quite a small school, um, and you have small class sizes, is it around about sort of 12 to 16 pupils in a class?
00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:51.039
Is that roughly right kind of yeah?
00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:53.840
So we're about to fifty pupils in the school.
00:43:53.920 --> 00:44:03.599
Um our um our in in in the under years up to up to Including GCSEs, the class sizes are roughly 14 in a class.
00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:05.519
That's our average class size.
00:44:05.679 --> 00:44:10.480
When it gets up to A levels, your class size averages around nine.
00:44:10.639 --> 00:44:15.119
So it does, it does get smaller, which means it's really hard to hide.
00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:17.679
It's really hard to get lost in a school of our size.
00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:30.320
And I think I have the great privilege at Loreto of getting to know all the pupils by name and getting to know their parents and getting to know what their interests and hobbies are and seeing them score goals on the on the astral scoring trials and rugby.
00:44:30.400 --> 00:44:31.440
It's a real privilege.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:37.760
Yeah, I was gonna because that was gonna lead into what are the main benefits of small class sizes and year groups.
00:44:37.840 --> 00:44:40.000
But I think, yeah, you've sort of touched that.
00:44:40.159 --> 00:44:44.639
Um, with you know, obviously you being able to get to know them, and as you say, people can't hide.
00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:46.880
So um that that's that.
00:44:47.039 --> 00:44:50.480
Is it still the case that Loreto doesn't have a school tie?
00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:54.239
If I remember, is that still yeah, and what was the reasoning behind that?
00:44:54.400 --> 00:44:56.079
Yeah, absolutely.
00:44:56.400 --> 00:45:00.000
Um, so I've just actually been speaking to our new pupils.
00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:03.360
We have we have a record intake this year of 120 new pupils.
00:45:03.440 --> 00:45:05.360
Um, so we're really delighted with that.
00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:10.639
But I've just been speaking to them and giving them a history lesson in the chapel, um, a very short one.
00:45:10.800 --> 00:45:12.719
Um, so yes, it is true.
00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:15.119
Our pupils to this day don't wear don't wear ties.
00:45:15.280 --> 00:45:21.440
That was a decision deliberately made by a head, the head he was known as called Healy Hutchinson Armand.
00:45:21.679 --> 00:45:23.679
Um, he was a bit of an eccentric.
00:45:23.840 --> 00:45:27.280
Um when he when he became head, we didn't have a school uniform.
00:45:27.440 --> 00:45:28.719
He liked bright colors.
00:45:29.199 --> 00:45:31.039
So he introduced the red coat.
00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:36.320
Oh, old Laura Tone is very uh uh um quick to say it's not a blazer, it's a coat.
00:45:36.400 --> 00:45:39.199
So he introduced a red coat, which our people still wear today.
00:45:39.519 --> 00:45:43.280
He also believed in team sport being really, really important.
00:45:43.679 --> 00:45:53.599
Um uh so he brought in the the ethos, the school ethos of mind, body, spirit, those three areas being essential to an all-rounded holistic education.
00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:59.199
He believed in team sport and young boys, because we were in all boys' school, um uh being active.
00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:09.679
And at a time in which um the uh boys from aristocratic families would have had to have worn cravats or ties, he said that doesn't make sense, they need to be able to breathe.
00:46:09.840 --> 00:46:11.840
So he did away with ties and cravats.
00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:14.639
And we still we still wear the red coat to this day.
00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:21.760
We still don't wear ties when we are in um when the pupils are in their red and grey, which is our iconic Loretto uniform.
00:46:22.079 --> 00:46:23.119
Yeah, that's great.
00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:25.519
Do do pupils say, oh, they think that's great?
00:46:25.679 --> 00:46:28.480
I can imagine boys loving not wearing a tie.
00:46:29.199 --> 00:46:35.199
They do, but it's lovely meeting new parents and then and then explaining to them um there was actually a deliberate decision made.
00:46:35.280 --> 00:46:40.480
And there are schools who don't wear ties there, but Loreto was almost a trailblazer in in that sense.
00:46:40.880 --> 00:46:42.000
Yeah, I can imagine.
00:46:42.159 --> 00:46:49.280
Also, another unique thing that stands you out from a lot of the Edinburgh schools is that you follow the English curriculum.
00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:54.960
Um, what would you say are the key advantages that brings, you know, compared to the Scottish curriculum?
00:46:55.199 --> 00:46:58.480
Or that's that's a very, very, very good question.
00:46:58.559 --> 00:47:08.320
So we we deliberately follow the A-level, um the A levels and GCSEs, the English curriculum, but because we believe in the the challenge and rigour that that it affords as well.
00:47:08.480 --> 00:47:13.679
Um we offer 17 GCSE subjects, so pupils get to choose.
00:47:13.840 --> 00:47:23.039
Uh obviously, our pupils have to do the core subjects, so they have to do English language um and they and they have to do maths at GCSE, and then they do some of the sciences along that.
00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:29.119
But then they've got a choice um, you know, from the arts across to the sciences to to languages as well.
00:47:29.280 --> 00:47:34.719
At A level, there's a choice of 21 subjects, and we also offer uh B Techs as well.
00:47:34.800 --> 00:47:50.320
We offer B Tech sport and uh B Tech Business as well uh on the side there, um, which are very both very, very popular options, but we we've chosen them because we deliberately follow the English curriculum because of the the challenge and the rigour of the English curriculum.
00:47:51.280 --> 00:47:51.679
Yeah.
00:47:51.920 --> 00:47:56.000
Also, obviously, being uh you're a boarding school, so pupils probably come from all over.
00:47:56.079 --> 00:48:01.039
Where would you say geographically um a lot of the boarding pupils come from?
00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:04.960
Well, and also do you have local families that choose boarding for their children?
00:48:05.360 --> 00:48:06.320
Absolutely, we do.
00:48:06.480 --> 00:48:10.719
So we we are 80% uh Scottish, uh Scottish school.
00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:18.480
So most of our families come from East Lothian, they come from the borders, they come from the north of England as well.
00:48:18.719 --> 00:48:24.320
Um, we we have roughly 26 different nationalities in the school.
00:48:24.719 --> 00:48:32.800
Um and um uh they the the pupils that come to us from from around the world.
00:48:32.880 --> 00:48:39.840
One of the big draws of this of Loreto is our our golf academy, the unique offering there that we've got the golf academy.
00:48:40.000 --> 00:48:41.119
So that's that's really important.
00:48:41.280 --> 00:48:45.199
But pupils come to us and they uh and they can they can be day pupils.
00:48:45.280 --> 00:48:52.239
We do have day pupils in the school, but our ethos is is our our structure of our week is based around a boarding structure.
00:48:52.400 --> 00:48:55.599
We have flexi boarders who come and stay three nights a week.
00:48:55.760 --> 00:49:06.639
We have weekly boarders who come in on a on a Sunday night or a Monday morning, whatever suits modern families, and they go home after their commitments um on a Saturday, which is mainly sport on a Saturday.
00:49:06.800 --> 00:49:09.440
And then we have the full boarders who are here.
00:49:09.519 --> 00:49:11.119
Um this is their second home.
00:49:11.280 --> 00:49:16.400
Um, we don't close altogether over our um what we call overnight leave weekends.
00:49:16.480 --> 00:49:19.119
Other schools might call them uh leave outs or exeats.
00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:30.159
Our boarding houses remain open because we're aware that for some families who come from Germany or Spain or Mexico, wherever they come from uh to us in the world, it might be a bit far to get home.
00:49:30.239 --> 00:49:32.719
So we we deliberately remain open in those moments.
00:49:32.880 --> 00:49:43.920
But we we are um very cosmopolitan, 26 different nationalities, but but 80% of our of our pupils come from sort of Scotland, north of England.
00:49:45.119 --> 00:49:50.000
What would you say are the core advantages for pupils who board?
00:49:53.039 --> 00:49:58.480
I went to boarding school myself, and so I can speak from from first hand experience, then I've worked in in boarding schools.
00:49:58.559 --> 00:50:05.599
I think it's you make such amazing friendships being at uh being at a boarding school.
00:50:05.760 --> 00:50:10.159
Um I've heard some boarders describe it as it's a permanent sleepover.
00:50:10.719 --> 00:50:27.920
So you um, yes, there's routine to follow, and there's supper, and then you've got prep uh in the evening where you do your homework um until 8:30, but then you've got time to to go out to the uh to the to the school's Astroturf uh and go and play, I don't know, football, tennis, hockey.
00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:33.199
We have all sorts of boarders activities put on in on um on in the evenings as well.
00:50:33.360 --> 00:50:38.239
Some of our staff will come into the boarding houses and and do some cooking in the kitchens as well.
00:50:38.480 --> 00:50:42.480
Um and uh so it's just a chance to forge friendships.
00:50:42.800 --> 00:50:48.559
There's also a chance for some of our older pupils, they'll tap into the expertise of our staff who are on duty in the houses.
00:50:48.800 --> 00:51:02.800
So let's say that they're doing business studies and the business teacher happens to be on duty in one of the houses, they might go across and have a have a have a clinic, uh, an extra lesson with with the business teacher or work in study groups with other pupils as well.
00:51:02.880 --> 00:51:04.960
There's so many advantages to boarding.
00:51:05.119 --> 00:51:13.440
Um but it's really that whole thing of the length of the day, making friendships, uh taking full advantage of all those opportunities that are that are there for you.
00:51:13.760 --> 00:51:14.079
Yeah.
00:51:14.159 --> 00:51:21.599
And what how how would you um say to parents who are not sure if their child would suit boarding?
00:51:21.840 --> 00:51:29.760
What's the are there any tips you could give to parents who are considering boarding but they don't quite know if they should or shouldn't?
00:51:30.159 --> 00:51:35.119
Well, one of the things we would offer parents if they weren't sure is we'd offer the child a taster evening.
00:51:35.280 --> 00:51:37.920
They can come into the school and and and and give it a go.
00:51:38.079 --> 00:51:45.360
We've had pupils who stayed for a couple of nights just to see if they like the routine of of staying and see if see how they feel that they'd they'd settle in.
00:51:45.440 --> 00:51:47.679
So we'd firstly offer that as well.
00:51:47.840 --> 00:51:53.440
Uh I spoke to the new uh new new parents and pupils just last night, welcome them to the school.
00:51:53.519 --> 00:52:02.400
And having gone to boarding school myself, I know um that you know homesick, homesickness is something that that that is quite natural and something that you will experience.
00:52:02.480 --> 00:52:12.239
And the best piece of advice I could give to to any um any parent or any pupils, just keep yourself busy, get out there.
00:52:12.320 --> 00:52:18.480
Uh you know, don't say say yes more than you say no to to those opportunities uh as well.
00:52:18.719 --> 00:52:24.559
I'd also reassure the parents if the parents are asking us just we've got a really good pastoral system here.
00:52:24.719 --> 00:52:38.880
We've got um we've got tutors who who are who our young people meet with every single day, uh, first thing in the morning, uh for for for um where key pieces of information are handed over, then they go off and into their lessons.
00:52:39.039 --> 00:52:45.199
They've got a head of year above that, and the head of year is keeping an eye on sort of the overall interaction in that year group and and patterns.
00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:53.119
And above that, we've got our child protection um officer, our deputy head pastoral, is our is our child protection officer in in the school as well.
00:52:53.280 --> 00:52:58.000
And above that, you've got a senior deputy head, and then you've got me and my family who live on campus.
00:52:58.239 --> 00:53:00.239
And then you've got the house team as well.
00:53:00.480 --> 00:53:07.199
So you've got the house master, house, house mistress, and the assistant house master, mistress, and the and the assistant house manager.
00:53:07.280 --> 00:53:13.840
There are so many people um out there keeping an eye on your son or daughter.
00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:22.400
And if they notice something that they're not sure about, they're gonna raise it, they're gonna or they're gonna check in with um with your son and daughter or pass it on.
00:53:22.719 --> 00:53:23.760
Yeah, yeah.
00:53:23.920 --> 00:53:25.519
Um that's really good to hear.
00:53:25.599 --> 00:53:30.159
And what would you say are the positive impacts of a boarding school for day pupils?
00:53:30.639 --> 00:53:32.559
Is there any benefits for them?
00:53:33.440 --> 00:53:39.280
Absolutely, absolutely there's our day pupils are are fully integrated into our boarding houses.
00:53:39.440 --> 00:53:44.559
This is a change uh which um which I brought in uh a couple of years ago.
00:53:44.800 --> 00:53:50.320
So all our houses are a mixture of day, flexi, weekly, and boarding pupils.
00:53:50.480 --> 00:53:52.559
Um day pupils are fully integrated.
00:53:52.639 --> 00:53:56.960
We encourage day pupils to uh to get involved.
00:53:57.039 --> 00:54:01.440
They're they're invited to um to uh alternative activities.
00:54:01.519 --> 00:54:09.840
I know some of the houses around Christmas, for example, they'll go, they'll go to to um to watch a theatre production or they might go out and have a meal together.
00:54:10.079 --> 00:54:19.280
Day pupils are very much encouraged to to to join in on that and included in in the house system as well, so they feel a part of a part of that as well.
00:54:20.400 --> 00:54:24.000
Um I'm aware of the time that I've got so many questions to ask.
00:54:24.079 --> 00:54:26.880
So I must now dive into your golf academy.
00:54:27.119 --> 00:54:34.480
Um how are pupils selected for that, or how do they, how does that, how is the golf academy working?
00:54:34.719 --> 00:54:37.920
Well, yeah, they they uh just they select us.
00:54:38.159 --> 00:54:47.039
So um we the golf academy, we were the first school in the UK to start a golf academy in the in uh in the 90s.
00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:56.320
Um about 12 years ago, we we built our own purpose-built uh internal uh facility, and it's an amazing facility.
00:54:56.400 --> 00:55:02.159
It's it's got trackman, caveest, puttlab, but I'm not a golfer, but but I've had to learn all these things.
00:55:02.480 --> 00:55:09.360
Um we've got um a shop, we've got a gym, um, it's an amazing facility.
00:55:09.519 --> 00:55:17.840
Um, I think the most important thing to say is we've got four four fantastic um professionals that work full-time in our golf academy.
00:55:17.920 --> 00:55:18.400
That is their job.
00:55:18.480 --> 00:55:21.920
They're part of our common room, like uh an English or a maths teacher is.
00:55:22.079 --> 00:55:29.119
Um and uh and so the the I suppose it's it's what we offer that's quite attractive uh to our parents.
00:55:29.360 --> 00:55:31.119
Our location is fantastic.
00:55:31.440 --> 00:55:33.920
We are on the Gulf Coast.
00:55:34.159 --> 00:55:55.440
Um, so over the road, our pupils will cross the road, and you've got the old course Muscleboro, which is actually the oldest continuous played golf course in the world, and that's sort of the home home golf course, which is just over the road where our pupils will go and play golf, and then they go down uh the golf coast and access a range of of Lynx golf courses which are which are on our doorstep.
00:55:55.599 --> 00:55:57.039
Um, so we're very lucky.
00:55:57.119 --> 00:55:59.840
It's it's the facilities we got, it's our location.
00:55:59.920 --> 00:56:10.559
But I think really importantly, Loretta is about people, and I would highlight the four um professionals uh that we have on our on our staff full-time who coach.
00:56:10.800 --> 00:56:13.280
Pupils can join us of all sorts of abilities.
00:56:13.440 --> 00:56:26.239
We have those who are uh the elites who have uh um single-figure handicaps, they'll be on our top program, our elite program, and they'll perhaps be looking for scholarships to United States universities.
00:56:26.400 --> 00:56:31.199
We have the the golfers, your solid golfers in the middle, and then we got those who sort of want to play socially.
00:56:31.440 --> 00:56:41.840
We even offer a get into golf program uh for boys and and girls, um uh uh and uh which has been really, really uh attractive.
00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:48.000
But the to answer your question, um they they choose us um and hope and our product.
00:56:48.880 --> 00:56:49.599
Fantastic.
00:56:49.760 --> 00:56:58.559
Um so beyond golf, what other extracurricular activities are especially popular, or which ones do you think might surprise parents to learn new offer?
00:57:00.079 --> 00:57:03.280
Well, we have a we have a we have a very popular astronomy club.
00:57:03.440 --> 00:57:11.199
Uh we've got a very uh passionate uh uh head of physics here who who loves this astronomy and is very passionate about STEM.
00:57:11.679 --> 00:57:13.840
Um we so we have astronomy.
00:57:13.920 --> 00:57:23.199
Uh we build a go-kart every single year, which gets raced around the sort of quad area outside here, uh, which is which is which is uh quite fun.
00:57:23.360 --> 00:57:26.239
We have a very active uh dance program.
00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:29.760
Uh we do really well in Model United Nations.
00:57:29.920 --> 00:57:35.360
We we have 60 different activities to choose from uh during the week.
00:57:35.519 --> 00:57:36.800
So it's so broad.
00:57:37.039 --> 00:57:47.679
Um, you know, from from STEM to to ceramics, we have a ceramicist who comes in and helps our uh our pupils uh uh build beautiful things and and fire them.
00:57:47.840 --> 00:57:50.320
Uh so we got we got that as well.
00:57:50.480 --> 00:57:56.000
Um so it's so broad, um but a range of 60 different things.
00:57:56.320 --> 00:57:56.960
Wow.
00:57:57.119 --> 00:58:07.440
Um so this whole sort of series of podcasts is obviously promoting the independent school open days, and um you have uh senior school open day coming up on the 26th of September.
00:58:07.599 --> 00:58:10.559
Um and I think then it's the junior schools in October, isn't it?
00:58:10.639 --> 00:58:12.079
That uh we run that.
00:58:12.320 --> 00:58:21.599
So Saturday, the 26th of September is is the senior school open day, and the junior school open day is on the afternoon of Friday, the 2nd of October.
00:58:21.840 --> 00:58:32.320
What's lovely about it is we always get our pupils to show parents around, and I think um the pupils are the best advocate for the school, so they will give you a tour and you get a little flavour for for what you want.
00:58:32.400 --> 00:58:36.639
But I would stress that we we we like to be individualized in our approach to parents.
00:58:36.719 --> 00:58:42.239
If if parents would like to to come in and have a have a have a meeting to start off with, we can do that.
00:58:42.320 --> 00:58:48.480
Or if they'd like a taste today for for their son or daughter, we can facilitate uh that as well.
00:58:48.639 --> 00:58:53.440
So we we you know there's no one uh one kind of approach for every every family.
00:58:53.760 --> 00:58:54.079
No.
00:58:54.320 --> 00:58:58.079
So people who do come to your open day, what what can they expect?
00:58:58.239 --> 00:59:00.960
What's the format of the morning um when they come?
00:59:01.199 --> 00:59:02.159
Yeah, so on Saturday.
00:59:02.639 --> 00:59:13.920
In the senior school open day, it would start off with with just a meeting and a coffee, and then we we would uh we would give you a tour with some of our six-form pupils who would show you around our beautiful campus.
00:59:14.239 --> 00:59:24.719
It would um sort of draw to a close in the chapel where there'd be a short address uh by me about about Loretto and why I choose Loreto.
00:59:24.960 --> 00:59:29.599
And then after that, we offer uh parents an opportunity to see what the food is like at Loretto as well.
00:59:29.760 --> 00:59:32.639
Um, so we've got a wonderful patron team here.
00:59:32.800 --> 00:59:41.599
Um, and uh so we give them an opportunity to to have some lunch with us and sit down with staff and ask some of our teaching staff what is Loreto like.
00:59:41.679 --> 00:59:43.760
Um so that's what they can look forward to.
00:59:44.079 --> 00:59:52.719
And what sort of I mean, people look quite far ahead, I presume, you know, if they're looking at the senior school, they might have children who are quite young, maybe even still, and they're looking, yeah.
00:59:53.039 --> 00:59:55.440
So it's not just people starting saying it.
00:59:55.840 --> 00:59:58.639
It's one of the biggest decisions that a family will make.
00:59:58.719 --> 01:00:01.280
Um, and it's you know, it's important that they get it right.
01:00:01.360 --> 01:00:07.840
You know, every child is different, and and and um, you know, the most important thing is that a child is happy.
01:00:07.920 --> 01:00:10.960
Uh, if child is happy, everything else will fall into place.
01:00:11.199 --> 01:00:16.480
So um making sure your child will be happy and you've chosen the school where your child will be happy is the most most important thing.
01:00:16.639 --> 01:00:19.039
So I'd say start, you can never start too early.
01:00:19.360 --> 01:00:21.039
Yeah, that's a good tip.
01:00:21.360 --> 01:00:28.639
Um, yeah, so now is there anything that I haven't asked you that you think is important for people to know about Loreto?
01:00:30.400 --> 01:00:35.519
I think the the thing that I would touch on is uh come come and visit.
01:00:35.679 --> 01:00:38.400
We are we, you know, people talk about a community.
01:00:38.639 --> 01:00:44.880
Some people take that a step forward further and say that we are more like a family at Loreto.
01:00:45.039 --> 01:00:46.480
It's very much a family feel here.
01:00:46.639 --> 01:00:49.199
We want our we want our families to be involved.
01:00:49.280 --> 01:01:00.400
We have an active um uh uh group called the Friends of Loreto, which is really important, um, in which we invite families in to come and have breakfast with us and come and have come and have drinks events with us.
01:01:00.480 --> 01:01:13.920
We encourage our parents to come and support our sports program, uh our sports fixtures, our plays, uh to join what we call the Red Wall, which is where our pupils go and watch um uh productions or go and watch sports fixtures.
01:01:14.000 --> 01:01:15.039
We call that the red wall.
01:01:15.119 --> 01:01:20.239
So we encourage parents to be a part of the school just as much as we encourage our young people to be part of the school.
01:01:20.559 --> 01:01:22.719
Yeah, so no, that is excellent.
01:01:22.960 --> 01:01:24.880
Um, well, thank you very much.
01:01:25.039 --> 01:01:27.280
As I said, I'm trying to stick to my 30 minutes.
01:01:27.440 --> 01:01:38.639
I think you have given us um a really good insight to um Loreto, and I'm sure you've sparked lots of interest for parents, and they will come and see for themselves on your rump and day.
01:01:38.800 --> 01:01:41.840
So, Pete, thank you very much for coming on the podcast.
01:01:42.480 --> 01:01:43.519
Thank you so much for your time.
01:01:43.840 --> 01:01:44.159
Goodbye.
01:01:44.480 --> 01:01:44.960
Thank you.
