Mr Jenkinson
By Saskia Fullerton-Smith
Aspire and Achieve. Ryedale School's motto is deceptively simple. I only realised the true depth of meaning when I was given the privilege of interviewing my Head Teacher, Geoff Jenkinson, on the eve of his retirement. I found him hard at work in his office but might easily have discovered him on the playing fields discussing tactics or sprinting in the pupil/staff 4 x 100 relay, greeting students in the corridors (each by their first name of course), enjoying a lunchtime jazz band practice or tutoring a class in one of his beloved English lessons. I began by asking him how he'd felt when coming to Ryedale in 1993, when the school was very different.

"It was very exciting. I was coming to a part of the world I didn't really know, but immediately fell in love with and I could see the school's potential." In aspiring to achieve his vision, he has created a strong team of dedicated staff in a nationally recognised school, with students being encouraged and equipped to achieve their own potential. For 17 years he has dedicated his time and energy to improving the school and establishing solid foundations for it to continue to grow in status and ability to serve the local community. He is very appreciative of the value of parents in raising funds, becoming parent governors and supporting him in his aims for the school. He believes that he is fortunate in having many families with the important attributes of honesty, decency and enthusiasm. In line with the school's tradition, Mr. Jenkinson has donated a trophy at the end of his term. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he has requested it be given to 'someone who has all the qualities that people at Ryedale School value' rather than for academic achievement.

I was interested to hear what Mr. Jenkinson feels is his main contribution to the success of the school since there have been many. "Building a strong team of staff. Throughout the years I have appointed and promoted people to develop a capable, professional team that have excellent relationships with each other and the pupils. Mr. Clay, as Deputy Head, has proved a valuable asset, taking the day-to-day running of the school in his stride and allowing me to concentrate on the strategic development for the future." As usual, he is eager to share out the credit for Ryedale School's success. "Parents are very supportive. They appreciate what we're trying to do and want the same things." The school has a fantastic PTA committee that is invaluable in organising events and providing essential resources such as the school minibus.

He includes highlights in his career as the time when the school achieved 'Leading Edge' status, enabling Ryedale to assist other schools, and 'Specialist School Status for Performing Arts' in rapid succession in 2004, but also in having the opportunity to work with people like The Reverend David Wilborne whom he describes as 'outstanding' as Chair of Governors. Essentially, he is clearly a 'people person'. He answers my questions more often than not crediting people he has worked with, being inspired by or who have helped him in some way. Although busy, he always makes time for students; is always accessible. People are important to him and he makes everyone feel important. This is a quality that can go unnoticed, particularly when that person is as self-effacing as the man I am interviewing; it 'oils the cogs' of the machine, it encourages positive-thinking, it makes people want to 'aspire and achieve'.

Not only is Mr. Jenkinson coming to the end of his role as head teacher, he will no longer be teaching English. When asked if he thought English Literature was still relevant to students today, he told me, "Despite the fact that peripherals change and people may use mobiles instead of landlines, human nature remains the same. People take from English Literature the basic skills that they use everyday, and from it form their relationships and livelihood. Without it, people can become outsiders in the world around, the the people who already have this knowledge and understanding". It is this desire to communicate, inform, and inspire that permeates his lessons and from which we have all benefited. The school has been at the forefront of his life for so long that it prompted me to ask what he would miss most. "I shall miss the energy of the young people around me. The wide variety of people to teach, help, inspire and become friends with." And it's true, there is much to be enthusiastic and passionate about. The school now holds College of the Performing Arts status, with classes in drama, dance and music and a thriving jazz band. There are award winning sports teams, science challenges, public speaking competitions, Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. There is the space to be an individual, the environment and opportunity to be heard.

Education has changed since he came to the school in 1993. He tells me that research on how people learn has led to more effective teaching. National standards have been introduced and the planning process in now far more detailed. However, this has come alongside an over-abundance of quangos and expensive administrative tiers outside the school, a situation he'd like to see improved.
"I'm sure that Richard Crane, as the new Head Teacher will lead the school through the next decade with energy and passion and I wish him every success. Ryedale School is particularly special and I know he will enjoy his role enormously."
But once the mayhem of end-of-term has passed, the emotional farewell concerts have come to a close and retirement finally begun, how does he see his days being filled? "Had I not been a teacher, I like to think I might have been a professional footballer, though perhaps more realistically I would have settled for a career in sports journalism. I'm now looking forward to having a better work/life balance that involves more time with my family – with some sport!" In an effort to encourage him to take it easy, the PTA has presented him with a sun-lounger – although a delay in delivery prompted Tim Bulmer to provide an artistic sketch to 'show what he's missing' in the meantime. Another gift came in the form of an impressive scrapbook containing quotes from pupils and photographs collected throughout the last 17 years, and an indication of the high regard in which pupils hold Mr. Jenkinson is evident in their commission of a watercolour by local artist Christopher Ware. The painting shows the front of the school with a backdrop of pupils heading towards the main hall, depicting characters both real and dramatised to exemplify the variety of school life experienced over the years. A brushstroke has been included for each pupil attending the school.
Asked what he found the most difficult issue to come to terms with, Mr. Jenkinson tells me that he's always been the sort of person to tries to make everybody happy, and coming to terms with the fact that he can't always do this is sometimes hard. He has, however, tried. This is confirmed when asked what he might like his epitaph to be: 'He Did his Best'. Always modest, always willing to give praise where it's due, always prepared to aspire and achieve, Geoff Jenkinson symbolises the underlying ethos of Ryedale School. I overheard one pupil describe him as 'a legend'. I have been lucky enough to have experienced a very special Head Teacher who is passionate about teaching and energising young people, helping us realise that there is not ceiling to our achievements, and ensuring we're not inhibited by our beliefs that we cannot aspire or achieve. We are encouraged to aim high, to push back boundaries. 'Aspire and Achieve' is not about ordering pupils to do well, it's describing how we should naturally behave. An invaluable message and one we can use to shape our lives and for which we shall always be grateful.