insideKENT Magazine Issue 78 - September 2018 | Page 111

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
EDUCATION
AND
SPECIAL FEATURE: KENT EDUCATION
WHAT MATTERS MOST
IN EDUCATION?
by Mike Buchanan
AS I DRAW ON THE EXPERIENCE OF MY TEACHING CAREER AND
TIME AS HEAD OF ASHFORD SCHOOL, I BELIEVE THERE ARE ONLY
TWO THINGS THAT GOOD SCHOOLS AND GREAT TEACHERS
SHOULD BE DOING. THE FIRST IS TO MAXIMISE THE
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THEIR PUPILS BY COLLIDING THEM WITH AS
MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN AS POSSIBLE WHETHER THAT
IS IN THE FORMAL CLASSROOM SETTING OR ELSEWHERE IN
AREAS SUCH AS MUSIC, DRAMA, SPORT OR SOCIAL ACTION OR
ANYTHING THAT THE PUPIL WISHES TO PURSUE.
The second is to develop the personal characteristics that underpin and enable a fulfilling life,
such as empathy, resilience, love, delayed gratification, dedication etc. One of the most
fulfilling moments in my career as a Head was when I received a text message from one of
the students who had actually listened to my end of term assembly and wanted me to know
that as a result of being urged to do something that challenged him, he was on the start line
of his first ever marathon. I often quote Maya Angelou who said: “People will forget what you
say and what you do but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Mike Buchanan was head of Ashford School for 13 years, and has recently been appointed
Executive Director of HMC. He has been succeeded by Michael Hall who started as Headmaster
of Ashford School at the beginning of September.
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