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One of his first decisions was to commission a refurbishment and redecoration of the building, such that teachers and their pupils would have a warm and welcoming environment in which to teach and learn. This was confirmation at the earliest stage of Iain’s commitment to ensuring that all pupils, especially those new to the College, would be able to thrive, not just academically, but also pastorally and in the co-curricular sphere. Mind you, it should be pointed out that there are those who think that the reason behind the choice of light blue for the walls is solely that it made it much easier for his son Jake (then in Year 3) to see the balls bowled at him when he and Iain played cricket in the lower corridor before the start of the school day. Iain’s style as a pastoral leader enabled him to gain the respect and affection of all the pupils in his care, thanks in no small measure to his calm (‘I am not cross, just disappointed’), consistent and thoughtful approach. He made sure he got to know every boy and their parents, attended every co- curricular event and in being prepared to have sponges thrown at him during charitable fundraising events made it clear that he was not above having fun. He is also scrupulously fair, takes a genuine interest in the personal development of all his charges, and only ever sees the best in them. Above all, he is immensely kind and utterly authentic. By his own admission Iain did not expect to stay in the Lower School for nearly a decade, but his appointment as Deputy Head Co-Curricular in January 2016 allowed him to develop an area of the school which, although always seen as an area of strength, Iain saw could be improved by greater cohesion and clarity. He was convinced that even more students should and would benefit from the phenomenal resources on offer at the College, and so it has been the case. To this role, Iain brought the qualities which had enabled him to enjoy such success in his pastoral positions: a sense of balance, a gentle authority, and a true desire for the whole College community to engage and to contribute. However, even Iain had to acknowledge that the organisation and co-ordination of a school-wide co-curricular system required some technological assistance, and he is rightly proud of the EVOLVE and SOCS systems, which were adopted to make the lives of the many who run trips and co-ordinate co-curricular activities much easier. What makes this achievement particularly impressive is Iain’s longstanding and widely known reluctance to engage personally with the world of technology. His original application form to teach at the College back in 1996 stated only that that he had a ‘familiarity with IT’ and for some time he avoided upgrading his iPhone for fear of losing the ability to watch cricket. Amongst Iain’s many accomplishments during his time as Deputy Head Co-Curricular was his pivotal role in organising the College’s Quatercentenary celebrations. This included leading the Dulwich Olympiad, where hundreds of pupils from across the Commonwealth of Schools competed in events at a number
Iain Scarisbrick TREVOR LLEWELYN Iain has never been someone to let the grass grow under his feet. His adult life has been a journey driven by a passion never to accept the status quo, but always to question what could be done differently – or better. For many, driving or accepting change is not easy; for Iain it is part of what he is. It is in his DNA. Iain arrived at the College in September 1996, not from a teaching post but on the back of four years spent in marketing. While working on accounts such as McVitie’s and the Daily Telegraph had given him an insight into the world of business, he concluded that ‘it was not for me’, and inspired by a gap year teaching in New Zealand after leaving Whitgift, he undertook a PGCE in Geography at Goldsmiths College. While he has always been impressive as a teacher of Geography, thanks not least to his calm and clear approach, Iain quickly recognised the importance of getting to know his students outside the classroom and was quick to take on the role of coach to rugby, hockey and cricket teams. Indeed, it was in the co-curricular environment that Iain saw a chance to make a real difference, and within two years he had taken over the running of the Middle School House system, readily introducing more cultural competitions to a calendar of activities that had up to that point been dominated by sporting competitions. The boys responded without hesitation, and participation in House events grew immediately. Iain’s ability to see where easy and simple changes could quickly make a significant impact led to his promotion to Deputy Head of the Middle School, where his proposal to create a system of Year Heads has now been adopted throughout the College. When the Head of the Lower School position became available in September 2007, he was the obvious candidate for the role, and here, too, his ability to take a holistic view became immediately obvious.
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