COMMENT: A reflection on Colston’s Schools' Tercentenary by David Marsh
I have been involved with Colston’s as a governor since 2003, and loved virtually every moment.
One of my jobs as chairman is to ask people to serve as a governor. I do not recall ever having had a refusal – such is the reputation that people regard it as an honour to serve and are pleased to have a connection with such a great school.
Edward Colston set up a very different school for a different set of pupils and society 300 years ago. He would not recognise the place – we moved from central Bristol to Stapleton 150 years ago, or the pupils, girls as well as boys, well dressed and fed, or the financial structure – nearly all fee paying.
But he would recognise the commitment to and importance of a good education for life which, as a co-ed 3-18 socially diverse school, we retain.
He would like our commitment to all rounded achievement not only in examinations, but in the theatre, and house music competition, on the rugby field, and the hockey pitch.
And I like to think he would enjoy coming into a school lunch; part of our ‘cement’ is that everyone from junior school upwards comes into lunch in the hall every day on a rolling basis over 2 hours– there are no sandwiches or lunch boxes, and pupils of all ages queue and jostle together.
The happy expressions, the relaxed demeanours, the chatter, the body language all point to a school at ease with itself, and with a commitment to the right things.
I hope he would approve of the buildings, sports grounds and the sweeping views across Bristol to the south.
Our principal marketing tool has been open days, in fact ‘every day an open day’ and there is a sense that once we can get prospective parents and pupils into the school grounds, and shown round by senior pupils – far and away our best salesmen’, we are well on the way to bringing them on board.
We have been good at changing in particular to reflect government policy, the Bristol education market and social progress.
Now we need to be able to offer more bursaries to deserving pupils, and hence a theme of the Tercentenary celebrations is to establish a Foundation which will raise endowment funds.
However the main theme is just to celebrate our successes over 300 years, to re-connect old pupils with one another and the school, and to have a good time.
We are in particular capitalising on our warm relationship with the Old Colstonians, who have been tireless in helping the organisation of the Tercentenary events.
These should include something for everyone from family fun days to formal dinners.
By David Marsh, Merchant Venturer and Governor at Colston’s School
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