Year 6 Prefects Q&A with Dr Griffiths
I think as a Head you have a vision of what you want to happen, and things you want to change…and sometimes changing things at the pace you would like can be tricky.
Philosophy Club, obviously! If I were your age, I would have done every single Sports Club I could – because at that age, that was all I really thought about. But now, I would join all of the Music clubs too. For example, choir – I’ve always loved singing, and I join in with Madrigal Choir at Dulwich when I can. I love being creative, too – so D.T or Art Club would be very enjoyable too.
5. What sorts of difficult decisions have you faced as Headteacher? (Josh)
12. When you were a pupil, what was your favourite subject at school? (Joshua)
I think when boys make bad decisions, and having to think about the best ways for them to learn from that. I don’t like giving punishments or sanctions, but sometimes it’s necessary to have to do it. As well as that, lots of the decisions around lockdown and COVID were very difficult. There was no rule book! We had to work it out day to day.
Well, I loved German at school, and I also got very interested in Geography as I moved through school and learned more about the world and Human Geography in particular. I’ve always enjoyed Maths, too.
6. What’s your favourite lunch at DC? (Rex)
13. What was your favourite book as a child, and what is your favourite book now? (Sebastian) I discovered reading relatively late in my childhood, and remember really enjoying thriller and spy books. I loved the Adrian Mole books when I was in Senior School, and now I love biographies of interesting people, and military history books too – particularly the Second World War. 14. Which musical instruments do you play? Which would you like to learn? (Ayush)
I’ve got lots! But I have to say the lasagne is one of my favourites. I also absolutely love the homemade tartare sauce you get with fish and chips! 7. What’s your favourite memory so far of being Headteacher at DCJS? (Ayush) That’s an impossible question! I think this year’s Great Exhibition was really special. Seeing the boys’ deep understanding of a topic, and talking to complete strangers about it is so impressive. Every production is also brilliant: especially when you see boys who wouldn’t normally choose to do much singing and dancing up there on stage really enjoying themselves. 51
A group of eager Prefects met with Dr Griffiths in the Summer Term to ask him questions they had always wondered... Here are the responses, and the results of the interview.
I sing, and I play the double bass – but I’m not very good at that! I always wish I could be better at the piano, too – I would love to learn more.
1. What is the best part of being Headteacher at DCJS? (Lex)
By far the energy from the boys, giving them amazing opportunities, and seeing them happy and engaged. Secondly, seeing the progress boys make from Year 3 to Year 6, becoming happy and curious learners ready to leave the Junior School and move up to the Lower School.
15. What’s your favourite sport, and why? (Josh)
8. What has been your favourite trip you’ve been on at DCJS? (Joshua)
I played obscene amounts of hockey from the age of about 10 to 30. From the age of about 15 – 25 I was playing about 5 or 6 times a week, and travelling around the country for games and training. In parallel to that, I’ve also really liked cricket. More recently though, I love running, swimming and cycling, and participating in triathlons. I do parkruns as often as I can, and do around 4 triathlons a year: I love the exhilaration of completing a triathlon!
I’ve been to Wales, and all the ski trips, and they’ve been good. But the Dulwich 400 celebrations in 2019 will always stay in my memory: going to St Paul’s Cathedral and being on the bridge to see the Gloriana was very special.
2. What is the school doing to protect the environment and stop climate change? (Ayush)
Lots of different practical things, as well as messaging to support good decision making. For example, we can do things at the school to change the way things are heated, to think about electric vehicles and how we all get to school. We can also think about how to support people in making better decisions – for example how people travel to school. Something like less than 15% of our journeys to school are in single use cars, and that’s really impressive.
9. Which DCJS Core Value do you try to embody the most? (Lex)
Doing the right thing. They’re all equally important, but that is the hardest one to define. Trying to work out the right thing to do, all the time, both as a teacher and as a person when I leave the school gates. Doing the right thing when nobody is looking is so important!
That’s all of our questions for today. Thank you for your time, Dr Griffiths!
10. Which House would you most like to be in? (Rex)
3. What persuaded you to be
Headteacher at DC rather than any other school? (Rex)
The diplomatic answer is…I can’t answer that question! But my son in the Upper School is in Spenser, so I look out for him in those competitions. In the Junior School though, I want every House to do well, and I love all of the House competitions!
I absolutely love the ethos of the school, and the broad, inclusive nature to allow everyone to be themselves. I like the broad range of opportunities, and the excellence boys have access to from such a young age.
11. If you were a pupil at DCJS, which clubs would you join? (Kit)
4. What challenges have you come
across as Headteacher? (Sebastian)
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