Ryde’s first Round Square Journey

I write this from the heart of the Indian sub continent in the city of Indore where for the last three days Head Boy Will Loach, Head Round Square Prefect Issy Terry and School Governor Dawn Haig Thomas have, alongside me, embarked on the second stage of our Round Square journey. That journey began, not at Heathrow or even Ryde’s Hoverport, but six years ago now when Ryde’s then Deputy Head, Anthony Shaw, first mooted the idea of our joining Round Square and visited Cobham Hall in Kent – strongly encouraged by Allan Graham, a keen advocate of the organisation and former Head of Round Square School in Windermere. We have spent the last year reflecting on how well we live up to the IDEALS that all Round Square schools sign up to – Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service – measuring, auditing and improving what we do in these areas so critical to the character education of our pupils and the well-being of our world. There was more to celebrate than create – a school founded on service and with adventure and leadership running through our DNA made quick connections, but our audit has stimulated the growth of the ‘Green People’ and forced us to look at the effectiveness of pupil voice. The preparation in itself was worthwhile, but the excitement for the four of us to actually be here is palpable. Here in Indore, soaking up warm Indian hospitality whilst sharing our time and ideas with people from all continents. There was something very exciting about that opening ceremony, when flags from all member schools were joined for the first time with one that a week earlier had been flying above Westmont; exciting too to see (or rather not see) Will and Issy as they independently spoke freely with fellow delegates. I reflected that my second day began with a conversation with someone from Jordan, then a coffee with a South African now living in New Zealand, before sharing a discussion with a delegate from Germany and one from Kenya in a seminar run by teachers from Canada and California. Lunch was, admittedly, with colleagues from Blackpool, but after lunch Denmark sat on one side and Romania the other. It was only later a French school leader introduced himself because every year his Year 7 students come to Shanklin for a theatre project and might we like to link up next time? I mention all this because I think it almost certainly is the greatest benefit of being in Round Square – the opportunity to engage easily with peers the world over. That’s why I hope over the years Ryde pupils will now find themselves in exchanges, service projects and conferences such as this. I was, to be honest, less impressed with the plenary discussions. The speakers (including one AI Robot) were prestigious and contraversial, great on both counts, but I felt the audience response to be uncritical and I wanted to hear the dissenting voice more – or am I being too much the western liberal, yearning for my dialectic amongst those eager to embrace jaw jaw rather than war war. Time will tell, and I hope Dawn, Issy and Will can share their stories over the next few days here, but for sure it is a journey I am so pleased to have started, and so eager to ensure many Rydeians will soon join us on.