Over 150 years of King’s service
Bob Currie
39 years
Why did you decide to become a teacher? had the enormous adventure of the annual down and so on, the big Woodard non-
I grew up in a school environment and our Chindit Exmoor camp with particular stop twenty four hour house events such
house was a constant flow of sixth formers responsibilities for the officers’ bar. There will as turning the Convent gym into a giant
discussing poetry and literature into the still be mint that I planted in he hedgerow scalextric racetrack were so memorable. We
evenings so teaching has always been in my behind the marquee to complete my evening used hundreds of pieces of track secured on
blood. serving of Pimms. The shooting team has top of a flooring of Astroturf and surrounded
When and why did you start teaching at been a particular focus and has produced by straw bales to recreate a genuine non-stop
King’s? some memorable moments amongst which 24 Hour Le Mans to raise money for charity.
A job was advertised at King’s in autumn was the team who managed to plant a spider Experiences like that stick in the mind and
1974 when I had literally just started training. in the end of my Nelson style telescope with the knowledge that one of the quiet juniors
I could not apply for the post as the start appropriate magnification to horror film scale. sitting in the little room off the gym [the pits]
date was January 1975 and my training would I have loved the opportunity to be involved keeping all the cars working is now a very
not be complete until July 1975. However in sport despite my modest credentials. I successful engineer is all the more rewarding.
my future mother-in-law was not prepared put my Hockey Association Proficiency One The pleasure in seeing so many generations
to lose her daughter to some hopeless case certificate to use and even had the current battle through all that teenage life threw at
headmaster of King’s Hall as a captain of one them and come out on top is hard to beat.
who hadn’t even got a job so I applied any
of my more successful sides. I took the very I have been even more lucky to experience the
way and was lucky enough to be appointed
first third eleven cricket side which was usually job of housemastering the staff in my deputy
by the then headmaster James Batten, who filled with reprobates who no one else would
allowed me to combine teacher training head role. I think the staff are a remarkable
countenance and as a result was often hugely bunch and amongst them is even one of
with a full timetable. I already knew about successful and became notorious on the local
the reputation of King’s as my father had my old Woodard house prefects. Having an
village cricket scene. After a less successful
started his teaching career here after leaving opportunity to help set a tone and help run
moment with bowling so poor from our side,
the Glider Pilot Regiment at the end of the a school community whilst keeping it true to
the umpire had to be taken from the pitch by
Second World War. I still have an ‘inky’ from its promises has been something I have prized
ambulance and was hospitalised for a week.
his headmaster Randall Unmack thanking highly.
my father for leading a squad of ‘pioneers’ I thoroughly enjoyed my seven years as
Head of the History Department and I well What will you most miss when you retire?
building the changing booths around the The people in the community will be what
Italian style open air swimming pool at King’s. remember the exciting moment when I
introduced the iPad of the 80s, the magical I shall miss most, starting unsurprisingly with
How has teaching changed since the 1970s? overhead projector, to the department and the pupils themselves. The entertainment
The system of exams, the structure of the saw in the new GCSE examination. It has provided by teenagers growing up from 13
curriculum and the tools at a teacher’s been a great subject to teach with so many to 18 takes some beating with all its angst,
disposal have all changed immeasurably but amazing stories and ideas that make you naughtiness and triumphs. It is a great career.
the core aims of education have stayed firm. constantly re-examine what you think. You The sense of community that runs through
When I started pupils took quite formal and are even allowed to keep learning about new King’s is a rare thing. The colleagues you work
challenging O levels and A levels were sat at eras and follow new enthusiasms. The fun of with who look after each other and go the
the end of 62 with papers lasting up to three learning while you are teaching is a particular extra mile and help make it such a civilised
hours each. I don’t think that meant that bonus for all of us. I have been fortunate place to work. It always has been a close and
anyone was better educated but it was a enough to teach A level topics from 5th caring place and I am sure it will remain so.
tougher experience for pupils. Century Periclean Athens to the English Civil What are you planning to do in your
What have you enjoyed most about your War and Oliver Cromwell and beyond. retirement?
time at King’s? My fifteen years as a housemaster of Woodard I am planning to move away to pastures new
King’s is certainly a great place for a teaching House were an experience that ranks as the with a fairly nomadic existence. I love London
career and I have been very lucky to be most rewarding years that a teacher could and I love Cornwall and much of my time will
involved in so many things in the time I have experience. The combination of separation be split between the two. I don’t have a list
had here. I have been involved in the CCF on the Convent site and that ancient building of must-dos like parascending down Niagara
since I arrived and despite running the RAF surrounded by playing areas could not have Falls or the like. Thirty nine years at King’s
section into extinction I was still rewarded been better. Apart from the several heart- have been enough of an adrenaline rush for
with a long service medal. For seven years I stopping moments when it almost burned me.
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