BOARDING
TOM BATTY : DOING THE LITTLE THINGS SO WELL
It is often the little things that can make the difference when running a boarding house . The gentle query to a boy about how his sport went on the weekend ; a kind word about an award received in Assembly ; an acknowledgment of difficulties on the home front . Or it might be an extra chocolate milk at lunch , provided to a Year 7 boy who has been particularly homesick .
These little things tell boys , in a subtle manner , that they are known , they are cared for and they are valued . It is these little things , among so many others , that our Principal , Tom Batty does so well .
Tom knows the boarders . He knows where they come from , what sport they play , if they are good at mathematics and if they are a chance of converting to his beloved Brentford FC . You will often find Tom at lunch on the Hill , sitting with the boys , listening and laughing , genuinely enjoying his break from the day school .
He is at Chapel every Sunday night , fills in for duty when we are short-staffed , referees the House soccer on Wedderburn weekends and helps out with maths homework most Sunday evenings . He attends staff and parent functions , calls you when there is a family crisis and knows your children ’ s names and interests . He also knows when to step away and let you get on with the job .
When Tom first arrived at Scotch there was discussion at the highest levels about the ongoing viability of boarding . Student numbers were low , and serious consideration was given to closing Arthur Robinson House and converting it to use for the Junior School . Staff morale was suffering due to these uncertainties .
The easy option would have been to reduce the number of boarders and close Arthur Robinson House . But this was not Tom ’ s way . Tom and the School ’ s leadership team accepted the challenge , and today , after much hard work , the Hill is thriving . We are at full
58 Great Scot Issue 165 – April 2022