Speech day 24th November 2012 Thank you, Chair of Governors. Thank you very much for coming today. Thank you for your support for the school, and for your welcome to me this term. It has been a joy to come to this beautiful part of the world, and this fantastic school. Relatively new in post, I feel a little like Rafa Benitez being asked to review the season at Stamford Bridge. But I think I’ll start a little further back to winkle out our DNA, and try to sequence some of the themes that make this school so special. This school is many centuries old, but it was reinvented by one Victorian headmaster, the Reverend Thomas Faulkner Lee, in the 1850s. The school was at its very lowest ebb. One historian writes in a slightly chilling way: “the Masters were not good teachers. Without the very real threat of punishment, the boys would not have shown diligence in their studies.” Nor was the location by the castle always conducive to learning, either because of hangings or because the local boys smashed the windows with stones. By 1850, there were just seven pupils. But headmaster Faulkner Lee had a very clear view of the purpose of education, and of its power. And he transformed the school. Within a very few years, he built what is now Old School House and being re‐roofed, obtained our royal patronage, introduced boarding and hugely increased pupil numbers. A proto‐Ofsted school inspector soon wrote that “The School was in his opinion one of the best in the North of England.” Lancaster Royal Grammar School became – and remains – one of the great grammar schools. Not always in political favour, but outstanding for its pupils. Some people see in current education policy the shadow of Gradgrind, Dickens’ fictional Victorian headmaster, whose philosophy was simple: "What I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Stick to Facts, sir!" And his famous definition of a horse: "Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth, namely twenty‐four grinders, four eye‐teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth." "Now girl number twenty,” said Mr Gradgrind. "You know what a horse is." The aims of Thomas Faulkner Lee, Gradgrind’s contemporary, you’ll be glad to hear, were very different. This is what he wrote: “I do not consider that education in its highest sense means only instruction in certain branches of learning. It means the foundation of character – spiritually, morally and intellectually; that he may act on manly and Christian principles. May the pupils of this school be ever taught to seek after truth.” Academic excellence, the formation of character, intellectual curiosity. Those are themes which echo down the centuries to the Royal Grammar School of today. Adults here will have memories of their own teachers. Can you name the author of this classroom memory? – not from this school I hasten to add. My teacher wasn't half as nice as your ones seem to be. His name was Mister Unsworth and he taught us history. And when you didn't know a date he'd get you by the ear And start to twist while you sat there quite paralysed with fear. He'd twist and twist and twist your ear and twist it more and more. Until at last the ear came off and landed on the floor. Our class was full of one‐eared boys. I'm certain there were eight. Who'd had them twisted off because they didn't know a date. So let us now praise teachers who today are all so fine And your ones in particular are totally divine. (I’m sure I can see some pupils nodding in agreement.) Written by Roald Dahl, of course. Lord Adonis, the Labour schools minister, writes that “no school can be better than its teachers.” So let’s start with them. Four teachers moved on from LRGS: Jim Calvert who taught amongst other things InspirUS (our donor‐funded primary school programme), left to work abroad with VSO. Owen Hughes moved to Durham School as Head of Economics. Shaun Higgins retired, having been a pupil at LRGS in the 1960s, and teaching here since 1970 – as French teacher, Head of Lower School, Head of PE and a hugely influential Master in charge of Sport. Last but not least, Andrew Jarman (who makes an unlikely Roberto di Matteo) moved on after eleven remarkable years, having left his mark on the culture of the school and on its buildings – two new boarding houses, City View and the grab‐and‐go, a strategic masterplan, an outstanding school. Can I record my personal thanks to him for his warm welcome. He has left not only to work on his golf, but to return to the classroom as a Maths teacher at what I can only describe as another excellent local school. Always the optimist, I choose to take that not as a vote against headmastering, but as a vote for teaching. We also welcome five new teachers to the school, and wish them every happiness and success: Mr Andrew Mawson as Head of PE, Miss Nicola McDermott in RS and Philosophy, Mrs Sara Coldwell in Economics and Business Studies, Mrs Rachel Casey in Art and Mrs Jim Mann in Spanish. Four teachers have gained Masters degrees in Education: Messrs Buckland, Reynolds, Millatt and Ryan. Please join me in thanking all the staff of the school for their outstanding work. Examination results Now the unexamined life is not worth living, said Socrates. Now perhaps not what that great thinker had in mind, but there is certainly no lack of examinations in the life of British teenagers. It was a very strong year of exam success, particularly at the top end of achievement. Over two‐thirds of all GCSE examinations were graded A or A*. 12 boys gained ten or more A*s. At AS level, 65% As and Bs was a record for the school. But they have got quite a target to chase – at A2, students gained an outstanding 19% A* grades – that is the best of any school for many miles around – and almost three‐quarters B or better. The nineteen boys who gained places at Oxford or Cambridge were just one tip of an impressive iceberg. I was delighted to see LRGS in the Sunday Times list of “Top 100 schools” last weekend. My view is that the school can be even further up that sort of list. We are a high‐powered school, and I would encourage those pupils who might feel that perhaps they haven’t won many prizes yet, to remember that LRGS pupils are all exceptional; “not bad” in our classrooms means “bursting with potential” on the national stage. I am not a great believer in innate ability, but I am a great believer in enthusiasm and hard work. I have found a lot of truth in the old saying: Whether you think you can or you can’t – you’re probably right. And take it from me. You can. Sport: Another superb year for LRGS sport. The First XV had an excellent season ‐ with highlights victory over King's Parramatta from Sydney and a superb display in a narrow defeat at Sedbergh. The squad won three Sevens tournaments, and reached the last eight at Rosslyn Park. And every Headmaster wants to beat Millfield, as we did in the Sedbergh Tens. 39 boys toured South Africa, from Robben Island to the Kareiga Game Reserve – with opposition that included Paarl Boys High School, the best school side in South Africa. The Second XV were undefeated, including their first victory at Sedbergh in living memory, where Mr Blackwell’s Third XV also won with the last play of the game. We hope to rearrange this year’s cancelled Sedbergh fixtures. The Under 13s won the Lancashire Cup and are doing well again, as are the Under 15s now in the Daily Mail 5th Round. The Cross Country team under Mr Yelland retained both the Northern Schools and Stonyhurst Relay crowns. Mr Young’s Third Year orienteers have just been crowned British champions. In athletics LRGS won the HMC Northern Schools titles in every age group to give Mr. Sunderland a fitting finale as Head of PE. In cricket the First XI were undefeated in Saturday fixtures, somehow playing fourteen games despite the rain! Highlights were victories over Manchester Grammar and the M.C.C. where Tom Whitehouse took 5 wickets for the second year in a row. I am told that the keynote of the side was their resilience – which I think means a nerve‐jangling ability to snatch victory from the jaws of collapse. The Third Years will play their overdue Lancashire Cup final at the start of the summer term. I know Messrs Ledward and Atkinson are planning a junior Barbados tour as they start to shape the First XI of the future. Rowing and Football are on the up, and the Under 16 Hockey players are through to the Lancashire finals. Mr Burns’ swimmers won the Sutton Invitational trophy, for only the third time in 32 years. Well done to Fourth Year Fabian Brennan, selected for the UK Cycling Talent squad, and to Beau Smith who is the reigning British Junior Triathlon champion. He is now at university in Leeds, and training with the Brownlee brothers – Olympic and World champions. No pressure, Beau! CCF and the outdoors: All three sections of the CCF received a glowing report at their biennial inspection this term. Their staff provide amazing opportunities for teamwork, leadership and the outdoors – from shooting, to sailing, to flying. DofE is thriving, with over fifty Bronze and Silver awards since September. A particular well done to Henry Halliday and Joe Atkinson in the Upper Sixth, who have achieved their Gold Awards already. The arts: There is a very striking sense of energy and purpose in the Music department, and highlights of this term have included a both‐ways exchange with Altenholz in Germany for our choir and the big band. Many of the school year’s key events depend on our musicians, from the carol service to Founder’s Day and the summer ball, the joint concert with LGGS – and this year, Jubilee fanfares from the Cathedral Tower. A charitable dimension includes performances for our community Christmas concert, St John’s hospice and the Christchurch nightshelter. Zaniest performance of the term so far was from Storey House, including a wineglass (definitely half full rather than half empty), and the loudest – from Rock School. I am pleased to announce that the first pupils will soon be awarded colours ties in art, music and in drama – another area where we work closely with the girls. The joint production of Romeo and Juliet gained outstanding reviews, while other performances included Jekyll and Hyde, the Seven Deadly Sins, Our Day Out (described to me as “riotous” – in the best possible way, I’m sure!), and Mr Hallsworth’s brainchild, the Lower School Arts festival – Rose Rage. Thank you to Ruaidhri Johnston for directing an excellent King Lear this term. If we survive the lower school Christmas pantomimes, then the next major production will be Return to the Forbidden Planet at the Duke’s in March. I understand that is best understood as a sort of 1950s retro comic strip sci fi Shakespeare musical! I hope to see you there. I have not yet mentioned our Quiz team – National Senior Schools Champions – our debating successes, chess players, or the £20,000 raised for charities local and global in the Lenten appeal. My challenge to the pupils present this morning is to beat that outstanding figure in 2013. Your job is to dream up ever more weird and wonderful ways of raising money. LRGS is a school on a hill that cannot and should not be hidden. I think even more people should know about our outstanding boarding opportunities, which are one of the gems of education across the northwest. And the influence of the school ripples out to every corner of England and beyond through you – our pupils and your futures and ambitions. That is why I am delighted to see so many boys learning Japanese, while even the most Euro‐
sceptical heart would soften to see our Comenius exchanges with France, Germany, Poland, Hungary and Finland. Parents entrust the school with your sons, your time, your energy, and in many cases your money as I know that many of you generously donate by standing order to the school. Thank you. We are waiting for news of our next bid for government funds for the continued renovation of Old School House, to bring that building back to full commission as the heart of teaching and learning in the school. Teaching, academic excellence, the formation of character, intellectual curiosity – those things will always be the heartbeat of the school. I am confident that for the most part, Thomas Faulkner Lee would approve of what you have achieved this year.