MEET THE HEAD :
EDUCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
MEET THE HEAD :
DAVID CLARK , CRANBROOK SCHOOL
Please tell us a bit about yourself . From an early age I had a flair for languages and the humanities and , rather fortuitously , I had some wonderful teachers in those subjects . I became a history teacher having been inspired by two great teachers who brought the subject to life and fired up an interest in me that went far beyond the classroom .
I have a love for travel and the wider world . In my twenties , I spent three years working my way around Australia , New Zealand , Asia , the Middle East , Africa , North America and Europe and I will never forget the incredible experiences I encountered . Having an internationalist outlook is therefore hugely important to me and I will always encourage students and teachers to embrace opportunities for overseas travel and cultural enrichment .
Why Cranbrook ? I was drawn by its fine reputation , many achievements and broad grammar intake , as well as its wonderful location and tradition of education for character . Its dedicated staff and engaging students alongside a commitment to pastoral care , its enviable co-curricular provision and its special boarding dimension were also especially attractive . The school ’ s mission , motto and values , and its aim to blend the traditions of the state and independent sectors successfully were equally compelling and its ethos was one that I wholeheartedly supported .
What is your vision for Cranbrook ? We have a collective vision to ensure that Cranbrook becomes celebrated nationally as the best state boarding school in the country – where students are inspired academically , where they embrace many new opportunities beyond the curriculum and where they develop impressive soft skills that will serve them well throughout their adult lives .
What are your thoughts on the holistic development of students ? Holistic education seeks to engage all aspects of the learner , including mind , body and spirit , and this is fundamental to developing educational breadth in our students . In order to prepare Cranbrookians for their futures , we need to ensure that they have strong academic foundations , but we must also widen their horizons beyond the classroom . Much valuable learning can be done in our societies , on school trips , on the sports pitch and in the orchestra or choir . Equally , we must remember to embrace lessons from those around us in the boarding house , in the common rooms or in the local community .
A broad and holistic education therefore better prepares students for a complex future for it gives them transferable skills as well as a well-rounded , empathetic and global outlook .
What are the benefits of boarding schools compared to their day counterparts ? Boarding schools have a special energy and dynamism . They are places that are alive all week and they invariably have deep community connections . Boarding is often enhanced by having students from all over the world and that brings immeasurable benefits to any school community , too .
What are the biggest challenges that face schools today ? The phrase ‘ we live in interesting times ’ should be reworded to say that we live in interesting and highly complex times and I can ’ t remember a period when schools faced more challenges . Teachers are faced with bigger bureaucratic burdens than ever and students are still struggling with the aftermath of Covid . Added to that , schools are caught up in the so-called culture wars and need to navigate their way through a range of emotive topics with care and sensitivity . Additionally , the world of education needs to better understand the new learning frontier provided by breakthroughs in AI , and we need to embrace this particular challenge as the development of artificial intelligence is likely to dominate our lives in the coming years .
What advice would you give to the students of Cranbrook to excel academically , develop as individuals and prepare for their future ? My best advice to Cranbrookians is to embody the school values of kindness , integrity , aspiration , curiosity and individualism . If students embed these guiding principles , I am confident that they can better prepare for their complex and uncertain futures and are more likely to make meaningful and significant contributions to the world around them .
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