leadership was characterised by his natural competitiveness and strong desire for boys to do well. He devised challenging schemes of work, focused on teaching and learning and built a formidable team to build what is still one of the strongest departments in the College. It wasn’t all work and no play, however, and Physics ‘marking sessions’ were well known for focusing more on the Chinese takeaway delivery than actual marking. Alongside Al, many of the department would participate in the popular Friday night staff football matches, at which his prowess on the football field is described as annoyingly good, but rather prone to snazzy moves that he didn’t always pull off… He led the department energetically until 2007 when he was appointed Deputy Master Academic, succeeding Gardner Thompson and After the Edward Alleyn Theatre was built, Norman became the Director of Theatre Sound for ten years. His work supported many productions, particularly musicals, and made him an essential part of the theatre’s operations. His interest in music and theatre finally came full circle when Norman was Musical Director for three school productions. He worked on Pardon Me Is This Planet Taken? , The Little Shop Of Horrors , and Toad Of Toad Hall. These were very happy experiences full of laughter and fun. With his considerable experience from running sound in the theatre, he undertook to record and edit many of the concerts that took place in the Fairfield Halls. These recordings were subsequently put on sale by the Music department and are souvenirs for many generations of OAs. Being something of a workaholic, and using his expertise on computers, Norman set up a music studio and began what taking on the role of developing the academic life of the school. years at the Fireworks Concert.
This was a natural next step for such a capable and charismatic colleague. Kind and humane, he approached his academic role from a decidedly pastoral perspective. Driving through academic change with a push for higher expectations from boys and colleagues resulted in improved results and a glowing inspection report – both reflections of his fine leadership and considered approach to managing change. The boys’ wellbeing was always at the heart of what he did. An excellent teacher who has never lost the ability to explain ideas with patience and clarity, Al always readily admitted that it is his time in the classroom from which he has derived the most joy. He takes great pride in the outcomes of his own students and confides that he always checks the results of his own classes first on results days, while obviously also monitoring the progress of the cohort. we now call Music Technology, a development that the College sorely needed. Meanwhile Norman found the time to run the Oxbridge and Internal Examinations; this inevitably led him to join the Academic Administration Team in 2002. Subsequently, Norman’s knowledge of the school made him a sympathetic timetabler, performing one of the trickiest jobs within the College community – telling boys and staff alike where to be, what to do and when to do it. As a colleague, Norman will be fondly remembered for stridently advocating a smoke-free campus and announcing deadlines for grades and reports to the College in an authoritative, but understanding, tone. Throughout all of Norman’s developing responsibilities he continued to make a lively contribution to the teaching of Physics at the College. Boys and many OAs owe their school life and careers to Norman’s energy, good humour and dedication to the College.
ALASDAIR KENNEDY
Fiona Angel
A lasdair Kennedy leaves Dulwich College and his role of Deputy Master Academic to take on the Headship of Trinity School. Under his guidance, Dulwich has developed as a strong teaching community that is both self-reflective and possessed of a clear, ambitious vision for the boys. It is not easy to improve an already successful school, but Al’s Caledonian charm has, over time, cast its spell over even the most subversive and cynical of us; we are all better teachers thanks to his leadership over the past nine years. Al arrived at Dulwich in 2003 as a fresh-faced Head of Physics. His NORMAN YOUNG N orman Young was appointed to the staff of Dulwich College as a young Physics teacher in September 1977. Just under 40 years later he leaves the College; his expertise in fields other than Physics – especially music, audio technology John Bardell and Peter Jolly and computing – was to take him into a range of other activities. Physics and Mathematics tend to go hand in hand and it was no surprise that Norman’s timetable included the latter subject. Mathematics and Music go together too, so he began to teach the clarinet, culminating in him establishing the College’s wind band – an ensemble that he directed for ten years. The band had great success including Founder’s Day, where it has performed for many
145
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker