David Handley has been involved with Bedales for 13 years, first as Chair of the Bedales Parents' Assocation and then as Governor and Co-Chair of the Governors. The school owes David a huge debt for all his dedication and warm-hearted contribution over these many years and we would like to thank David on behalf of all the parents for all his time and wonderful effort. We asked David a few questions, which he has kindly answered below :)
What do you like best about Bedales?
DAVID: This is easy, it is the students. Although,as anywhere, we get some bad behaviour and some inappropriate behaviour, I do not believe any school produces students as interesting, interested and as well rounded and educated as Bedales. While at school they are respectful but not deferential to adults, be they staff, parents or visitors. But more importantly they are always challenging, independent in their thinking, occasionally off beat and invariably worth talking or listening to. Once they have left school, whether in tertiary education or later, you can spot them a mile away. Intellectually curious and uncompromising, socially cohesive without being cloying, welcoming to others and a delight to be with. They carry with them from school an absence of 'attitude' to the older generation. Willing to let anyone prove that they have something useful to say. Of course there are exceptions, but not many.
To get this kind of student replays back into the quality and commitment of the staff at the 3 Bedales' Schools, and not exclusively the teaching staff. It is not easy to achieve this year after year in the changing social, educational and cultural environment in the UK. We should recognise the postive contribution the staff make to how our children turn out, and governors must continue to create the conditions in which the best staff, best in their fields, can be recruited and retained.
The students are a credit to the staff, to their parents and most of all to themselves and long may it be so.
What has been your happiest moment in your 13 year association with the School?:
DAVID: Actually, our first child came to Dunhurst in 1989, so I have been continuously 'involved', since then - 18 years. Happiest moments are all around our 3 children, from the uninvited telephone calls (pre e-mail) we used to get from House staff when we were overseas to say that they were well, happy and enjoying being boarders, to the satisfaction in what they achieved for themselves, from they way they treat their friends to they way they treat us their parents.
But I imagine your question is more about my institutional involvement. In that, perhaps not the happiest, but I am most pleased by the success of Dunhurst, following the attempt to divide it in two and merge the resultant halves with Dunannie and Bedales respectively. I always regarded Dunhurst as vital to the process of educating and developing our children and I could never understand the logic behind the proposal to close it. While I am satisfied that I was able to play a part in maintaining was has turned out to be a dynamic status quo - if that is not an oxymoron - I am delighted with the way, beginning with the Heads and Senior staff at all 3 schools and then the staff in general, managed the schools through this difficult time.
How are you planning on spending your time now?
DAVID: What time? I can give my full time job the time it deserves and when that ends, I already have a number of non 'slipper and pipe' activities planned to keep my brain alive. Given that we live locally, I hope we will be seen for some time to come around the Schools, not least enjoying the rich cultural programme.
Have you preferred being BPA Chair or Co-Chair of the Governors?
DAVID: A difficult one, as I did not seek either post. I think if the issue is enjoyment, then the BPA wins. But to be a Governor of Bedales is an enormous privilege, even if at moments during my time as a Governor this concept was put under some strain. But as I leave, things are going well and I believe and the privilege element has returned. The responsibility of Governors has quite rightly increased. It now extends into areas of governance such as health and safety, risk analysis and student and staff welfare and well-being. This is much different even from 2000 when I joined the Board and it makes the role of governor more tasking. Parents, staff and students should recognise this. As to being Co-Chair, this has worked well, both for me personally and I hope for the Schools, but it is good that it is coming to an end.
Any message for the Bedales parents?
DAVID: There is a constant need for communication between Parents and the Governors, as there is between Governors and Staff. This is better now than it has been for some time, but it cannot be taken for granted. My message to Parents is that they have a responsibility in this as they have in other areas of school life and activity. It is not all about 'my rights'. It is not a school for the lone individualistic parent, student or member of staff. We need strong individuals, but within a collective, co-operative whole and this too needs work to maintain. Parents must be prepared to work a little and to conceed some small part of their personal desires for the common good. This does not mean that they give up any vigilance or response in respect to the education and welfare of their own children. But in other more collective areas of school activity and behaviour they should be prepared to recognise the good of the whole. Less of the individual hobby horses and more of the 'what is good for most/all'.
Thank you so much David. We wish you all the best for the future!!
The Bedales Parents’ Association Social Committee
The wine for both events will very kindly be supplied by Stormhoek as part of their Geek Dinners Promotion
