Page 13 - link magazine

Education News

Highly regarded head takes off for USA experience

Dale Burr, the popular, first-ever,
headteacher of Oakhurst Primary
School has set off on his travels
again to take up a headship of
an international school following
the British primary curriculum in
Chicago.
Originally from Australia, Dale
visited the UK on holiday in 1995
and stayed, bringing his breezy
optimism and bright attitude to
Westlea Primary School where
he completed British teaching
qualifications. He then moved onto
Brook Field primary before taking up
a deputy headship in Calne followed
by a headteacher role at Minety.
In September 2009 Dale opened
Oakhurst with two teachers and
32 children in a portacabin for a Dale joining in with a surprise flashdance for him organised by Revolution Performing Arts
year in a corner of the site, whilst at the school fete on 2 July
building works took place in the
background. Now there are 480 year groups so, for example, over five floors and a playground on
pupils. nursery and reception children are the flat roof. As a fee paying school Help Isambard celebrate
“A colleague told me there’s mixed, in order to create a flexible with British qualified teachers there Plans are being made to mark the
nothing like opening a brand new environment for children. “I’m will certainly be differences like tenth anniversary in September
school to create a shared ethos, and a big believer in giving children smaller classes and a large number 2017 of the arrival of Isambard
she was right,” said Dale. “I really opportunities and experiences. If of teachers. Community School’s first students.
enjoyed the family atmosphere at we in schools give them exposure “But I will be taking all the great Assistant headteacher Julie Lewis
Minety and I wanted Oakhurst to to lots of different things, whether experiences from Oakhurst with me is calling for ideas for events and
have that village school feeling. it’s music, art or sport alongside and I will certainly be doing all I can activities over the next year.
“For me, being as visible as traditional subjects, hopefully we to involve parents in their children’s If you can help mail:
possible has been the key, will trigger passion and enthusiasm education.” [email protected]
welcoming pupils and parents at for learning to take to secondary
the start of the day, spending time school.”
in the playground, going in and Now Dale is taking his undoubted
out of classrooms and even serving enthusiasm to a private school
homemade scones and cream at in Chicago. He said: “I did a 15
a monthly parents get together. month secondment with Ofsted in
It’s all about letting parents and 2013 and I started thinking of new
children know that the school is a challenges when I returned. A friend
place where we all work together to told me about the international
support and respect each other. school network and the expansion
“I also wanted children to learn of the Nord Anglia group in
about the world around them and America. I applied and to my
how other people across the planet surprise they took me on.
live.” “The British School of Chicago
Under Dale’s guidance the school at Lincoln Park has 520 places for
blurred the distinction between children aged two to eleven, spread

Dale with Aysha Akif who will succeed him at Oakhurst
in September. Read our profile in the next edition
swindonlink.com n August 2016 13

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