Robert Baylis by Nick Mair
beyond with his Year 11 IGCSE French class, meeting with them after school, weekends and holidays to practise and help them prepare for their exams. Other classes have appreciated his balance of knowledge and accessibility. Few teachers have taught Years 4–13 as Robert has done. Elsewhere in the College Robert was involved in a number of key areas. He coached rowing at DCBC and then, as Head of Rowing, shepherded the boat club through a number of challenging years. He stabilised the format and was able to work well with pupils as well as parents (an often-overlooked skill). He is in addition a member of the College’s Education Leadership Team, a Yelcho Room listen- er and committed Community Action volunteer. Robert has a wide range of other interests which he relishes in holiday time. An avid exhibition- goer he also enjoys reading widely, theatre-going, hiking and, of course, tennis. Robert has chosen, after a mere 28 years of en- thusing in the classroom, to hang up his chalk/ whiteboard marker/rowing ratings watch. This has possibly been in part decided by the demise of three of his and Nicola’s parents in a short number of years and the demands this has imposed, but also by a desire to spend some daylight hours with Nicola, Miles and Annabel. Unsurprisingly he is also keen to concentrate on his application to be a magistrate. Caveat fur, inter alia ! ◎
range of activities. Only polymaths need apply. The trip, in addition to “les classes de français” also has “le karting”, “la randonée” and “le handball”. Just understanding the activities is in itself practically the first third of a GCSE French paper. I am reliably informed that Robert wins the prize for most offers of lesson cover. Robert’s colleagues are unstinting in their praise. He is able to combine an unflappable pro- fessionalism as well as showing great kindness and understanding. One colleague commented: “Robert has been a massive support to me and, like any good leader, he knows how to serve as well as to lead. He is good on the detail and has always made time to remember something of the personal situations of all members of the MFL team and ensure that those important pieces are not squeezed out of the daily school round. He is selfless, empathetic and consistent. He’s really good at looking after the people. Every day, Robert is relentlessly upbeat and cheerful, even on days when he (or we) may not be feeling it! Managing to be the same is a great and rare quality. Another commented: “One of the many things I loved about working for Robert, is that he really trusted us to get on with the job, whilst at the same time providing structure and support whenever needed. I would work with him again as my HOD any day. He has set the standard for me that I don’t think any others will reach.” Robert looks for the good in every pupil, either in his classes or tutor group, without falling short on standards and expectations. The way that he ekes out good grades from pupils who arguably deserved less, is something to behold.” Others confirm this commitment to his students. I am told that this year he has gone above and
Hotfoot from the joys of Christ’s College Cambridge, many have found fulfilling and successful careers at PwC; not so for one Robert Baylis. Swapping the columns of an accountant’s spreadsheet for those more Doric or Corinthian in nature, he completed an MA in Greek and Byzantine art at the Courtauld. Thus equipped, he then settled on a career in the teaching of modern languages. And it is here that he has been able to make such a significant contribution. And so started his seven years at Halliford School in Shepperton. By the time these had elapsed, he had become Head of Modern Languages. To their loss, and to the gain of the College, he left in 2005 and started as Head of French in a Dulwich department of some 15 colleagues. Having stabilised and grown the numbers of both pupils and teachers in the French Department, he was then appointed Head of Modern Languages. It’s no mean feat to run a department of more than 30 staff and, in addition, he has at times notionally been Head of Chinese as well as Italian. Whilst Robert has never actually been Head of Spanish or German, he has accompanied trips to Valencia and the Christmas Markets. His linguistic expertise is impressive, and he authored the well-respected and bestselling and nattily titled Edexcel textbook ‘French for A Level’. It did very well what it said on the “boîte”. Robert is probably the best travelled linguist, and this not because he has visited exotic far- flung locations but simply by the fact that he has accompanied the largest number of MFL trips abroad. Year after year he has taken Year 12 boys to Paris — why wouldn’t you want your own Louvre expert? So too for the Year 7 and 8 boys to Vic-sur- Cère. The latter is considered a marathon given the
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