Interview
Mark at University
New Science Labs
at Ryde School
A science tutorial with one
of Ryde’s boarding pupils
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www.visitilife.com
about as far removed from rural leafy
Oxfordshire as you could get.
“During that time, it was just me in a
classroom. The history department was
a hut on the roof, and classes had to be
cancelled if it rained!”
Two years later, he returned to
Cambridge and a more conventional role
as Head of History at The Leys day and
boarding school.
Still only five years out of University,
he threw himself not just into the head
of department role, but also did drama
and coached sports including water polo.
After two years there, at the age of 28, he
became a House Master, responsible for
60 boys aged 13-18.
“As I wasn’t that far away from their age,
I was probably more of an older brother
figure” he says.
It was certainly a demanding and all-
consuming job, and he reflects now: “It
was the best job you ever do – but the best
job you STOP doing!”
Certainly it didn’t leave him much time
for a social life outside of school circles –
and now he says it’s probably part of the
reason he remains single.
“When you’re 28, it’s not the best chat-up
line to tell someone you look after 60
boys!” he jokes.
“Those years I spent at The Leys would
have been the classic time of life when
most people settle down and for me it
didn’t happen.”
But the upside of that, he says, is that he
has always had the freedom to indulge
his passion for travel – and he’s used it to
the full.
Taking advantage of the long school
holidays every summer, he enjoys making
what he calls ‘big trips’ to far-flung locations
which have included North Korea, the wilds
of Russia and rural Canada.
After nine hectic and enjoyable years at
The Leys, he accepted a Deputy Headship
at another independent school, Sherborne
in Dorset. And five years there took him
to the age of 40, when he decided it was
time for another overseas adventure.
That came with his appointment as
Head of the English College in Prague, a
12-18 grammar school, predominantly
for Czechs and with a strong liberal and
democratic ethos.
“I like to go to quite distinct places” he
says, “ones with a definite character all
their own”.
Which was how, after four years in