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Leaving school stable with strong ethos intact
The end of term saw the departure of Roger Nicholas, headteacher of Brook Field Primary in Shaw, only the second head in the school’s 20 year
history. Emma Kimber, from Peatmoor, former pupil and now journalism student at Southampton Solent University interviewed the teacher she
first met when she was four.
On my return to Brook Field, eight fell out in assembly,” said Ben Cox,
years after I left, everything is fa- now 19 - an incident that has stuck
miliar, but unsurprisingly smaller. in everybody’s mind.
“Of course I remember you!” Mr Holly Dowling, who left Brook
Nicholas beams, when we meet Field in 2000, and is about to begin
again. He is just the same as I re- a degree at Oxford University, re-
member him: friendly, funny and membered how he was ‘always
Welsh. very tolerant of me.’ “I was always
Roger Nicholas came in Septem- writing him letters suggesting
ber 1990, pursuing the challenge crazy schemes for the school and
of a larger school, having come he was always so kind about them
from Chippenham. Teaching was – always turned me down, but in a
not an unusual career choice, as a nice way!‘
large proportion of his family were So, what next for Mr Nicholas? In
in the profession already. September he will spend five days
Shortly after his arrival, in his in Nantes, France, with the red
first interview with The Link, he Roger Nicholas is joined by Emma Kimber and present pupils, from left, Oscar hoardes supporting Wales in the
stated his belief in upholding tra- Turtle, Toni Cox, Hannah Sellars, Maegan Bryon, Joel Goddard, Matthew Watson pool phase of the Rugby World Cup.
ditional values at Brook Field, In the longer term he plans to
where courtesy and respect for hope that all the children who have agree with this. stay in education, passing on his
each other are key to a child’s de- attended feel that their days here Mr Nicholas commented on the knowledge as an education advi-
velopment and that learning have set them up for their future. strength and support of the school sor in Swindon and to other au-
through first hand experience is at Learning through themes, and first governors and the massive and thorities closeby.
the heart of education. Whilst tech- hand experiences and visits is excit- continuous support of parents in Pupils past and present and their
nology and examination styles ing,” he explains, talking about the donating time, money and enthu- families were welcomed at the
have obviously moved forward Mr annual residential trips to Cromer siasm. Brook Field has also built school’s summer fete on Friday 29
Nicholas is adamant that over 17 and Conwy in Years 5 and 6. strong connections with Bradon June to celebrate Roger Nicholas’
years, the school has not changed “Children don’t remember tests, Forest and Greendown Secondary time at Brook Field School and to
dramatically. they remember doing things. We Schools. say farewell.
Without doubt he is proud of get brilliant SATs results, but it Speaking to old school friends, • Melanie Sancto, deputy
what the school has achieved. “Be- isn’t at the cost of losing learning they all have fond memories of headteacher at Brook Field for sev-
ing headteacher of this school has experiences.” their time at the school. eral years, has been appointed
been incredibly rewarding, and I All ex-pupils, like me, would “I remember when his false teeth headteacher from September.

1 August 07 14 19/7/07, 3:45 pm