‘No boxes or moulds. A school with a comprehensive intake, universal outlook and concentration on the individual; not fine or fanciful but fun and fair with a flair for finding, and focusing on, talents.’ This is the conclusion of the inspector from the Good Schools Guide, who visited us in March . She also quoted a parent who had told her: “They think they want fancy facilities, labels or names but end up buying into the Quaker values and ethos; those of respect, nurturing and quiet ambition”. I think you will find ample evidence both of those talents and Quaker values in this Sibfordian. I realised, over the summer, what a rich reflection of school life the Sibfordian is. How can one summarise, let alone judge a school, especially when the students are not there, and especially when some of the buildings have scaffolding and dust all over them? I was able to show several visiting families over the summer, copies of last year’s Sibfordian. Like this one, it gives a real insight into what we are like and what we can offer, and this makes me feel proud and privileged to be here. It also reminds us that the school is more than its current pupils and staff. For many years Sibford School has hosted an annual summer gathering of young Quakers, aged 14-18, from all over the south of England. About 85 of them come together for this ‘Senior Conference’. The young Friends live in our boarding houses and share time together. They have visiting speakers and spend time in ‘base


groups’, sharing


Welcome ...


their ideas and concerns; they organise their own entertainment and activities, supported by a small group of adult helpers; and they close each day with an ‘epilogue’, a time of quiet worship and reflection. I try to join them for some of their meals, their worship and their speaker sessions. I have come to know some of them well over the years, and I am always impressed by their enthusiasm and interest in Quaker ideas and their commitment to making their lives reflect these values. It is really inspiring to witness


formal discussions and casual conversations about the ethics of vegetarianism, the proper treatment of offenders and which career choices are more moral. I also welcome the connection that the event makes between the school and the many Quaker Meeting Houses that send young people to us. This year the theme of their


conference was taken from Advices and Queries 17, which asks us to ‘think it possible that you may be mistaken’. This conference took place against a backdrop of significant school building work. The Hall and Design & Technology rooms are, even as I write, the scene of considerable hammering and drilling. As I have watched the new hall take shape, with large windows bringing light into the space, a new roof and cladding being put in place to make it water tight and more attractive from the outside, I have been reminded that I was guilty of being mistaken in thinking, in line with our architects’ master plan, that we should demolish the old hall and build a completely new Design & Technology block. I think it was right that we, the School Management Team and School


Committee, took


another look at the plan, thought carefully about the implications of spending several millions on one project, considered the impact on the environment and developed plan B. I consider myself hugely


fortunate to be able to work in this reflective Quaker setting, and wonder how much more difficult it might have been to change our minds in another sort of school or institution, where people can become over confident and dogmatic that their plan or their idea is the right way forward. The young Quakers at Senior


Conference who had visited Sibford before were amazed at the changes that had taken place in our school dining room, where new furniture and serveries have completely transformed the dining experience. It was interesting to listen to their observations ... “It makes the school feel more modern”, “The school must be doing really well”, “The food seems even better now” ... I reminded them that should consider that they might be mistaken! The attenders at Senior


Conference write a letter to let the Quaker community know what has happened during their time together. The lines with which they finished this year encapsulate what we are also trying to achieve at Sibford School. “We have felt sustained by our past and inspired by the potential our future holds, and we hope to continue to live by the sentiment of ‘Think it Possible…’ I think this is clearly


demonstrated in this issue of the Sibfordian.


Michael Goodwin The Sibfordian / 3


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