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No joke! The new head of the British School of Bahrain (BSB) is looking forward to steering the merry ship BSB into calmer waters and bringing a smile back to the faces of pupils, parents and members of staff.
Dr Charles Wall will take over the helm from August after a turbulent spell at the Hamala campus following the sudden departure of popular head, Karen Moffat. She was dismissed despite the school’s excellent rating and has since left the island to take up an executive position in China.
Dr Wall, 53, often likened to British comedian Peter Kay, said: “BSB is an excellent school as the recent QAA Inspection underlines.
“Staff, parents and students are committed to the school’s vision. I have seen this first hand during my visits throughout which I have been struck by the professionalism and endeavour of staff, students and parents alike.
“I met with staff and praised them for their professionalism and commitment. I also met with students who impressed with the warmth of their welcome, their poise and their healthy determination to make a difference in their lives.
“With such talent on board, the BSB ship shall continue its journey a pace with purpose as we strive to be the best we can be and secure world class outcomes for all of our students. It is through engaging BSB’s constructive energy that we invest in, and secure, the success that breeds confidence and steadies ‘the ship’.”
Dr Wall says his steadfast belief that schools must make a difference to students life chances, coupled with a successful track record of doing exactly that throughout his career as a teacher and educational leader, will prove pivotal to the school’s future success.
“On the academic side, I shall ensure we add value to every BSB student and am particularly keen to support gifted and talented students to ensure they are fully-stretched and secure places at the world’s best universities,” he promised.
“This will involve making sure our teaching and learning are truly outstanding and that we are committed to a life-long love of learning and the habit of always striving to improve on our personal best as teachers and students.
“On the enrichment side, I believe in educating the whole child and the notion that excellence is a habit which schools and parents nurture during a child’s formative years. To that end, I shall seek to grow the enrichment and leadership opportunities for BSB students so they emerge as well-rounded, confident, educated leaders always ready to bring constructive energy to bear for the good of mankind during their lifetimes.
“I have always promoted sport, outward bound, music and the arts throughout my career together with enterprise and leadership and shall look to grow this further at BSB.
“On the community side, as a head and as a parent, I know how important the partnership is between a school and its parents and shall be working hard to ensure parents are constructively engaged in their child’s education and able to play their part.”
A keen sportsman and musician, Dr Wall brings considerable academic edge with a first class honours degree in physics from Imperial College, a PhD in theoretical physics from Edinburgh University, a PGCE from Oxford University and the National Professional Qualification for head teachers from The National College of School Leadership.
He has worked in Singapore and England and his last port of call was in Egypt. “I enjoyed five professionally-rewarding and successful years at The British International School (BISC), Cairo, as Head of Seniors during which time we moved the school to a state-of-the-art campus and grew the school from 500 to 900 pupils,” he explained.
“I look back with pride on these years and the quality of the education we provided throughout a turbulent time in Egypt. I still love Cairo, but it is time for the next big adventure and I am really looking forward to leading The British School of Bahrain!”
The recent unrest in the kingdom did not deter him, either. “Having lived through ‘Sars’ in Singapore, ‘Swine Flu’ and revolution in Cairo, my family and I are not easily phased and know that the ground swell of people in any country are essentially peace loving,” he said.
“I know Bahrain has faced some problems yet I am confident in its ability to weather the storm and to continue to grow as a nation.”
Dr Wall met his wife Carole in 1989, when he was studying at Oxford University and she was a ward sister at The Radcliffe Infirmary.
They have three children – Patrick, 21, Peter, 19, and Benjamin, 13. The couple were also active foster parents too when the boys were young.
The proud dad, said: “Patrick is a singer-songwriter and comfortable performing to a crowd having performed to thousands at Tanglin, BISC and at The Cultural Wheel in Cairo.
“Having completed his IB at BISC, Patrick plans to pursue a degree in English and philosophy and a career in teaching.
“Peter, takes after Carole and following completion of his IB has secured work as a health care assistant for his gap year prior to studying for a career in mental health care.
“Our last born, Benjamin, is an avid reader and writer and enjoys playing trumpet. He is really looking forward to getting involved in the life of BSB and in pursuing his interests in writing and the performing arts.”
Dr Wall, a keen rugby follower, aims to actively pursue his sporting and musical interests in Bahrain.
“I have always enjoyed sport,” he said. “As a young man, I played all sports and have enjoyed growing rugby and running in a number of schools where I have worked.
“These days I enjoy squash and badminton and hope to play competitively in Bahrain. In rugby union I support the British Lions, England and Leicester Tigers.
“I also come from a musical family. My mother and father were both opera singers of some note in the north of England and my sisters are talented vocalists.
“For my part, I branched out into brass music and have been an accomplished cornet and trumpet player. These days I am playing the euphonium, which you might describe as the cello of the brass band and am playing with Melton Brass Band. I hope to join a brass group in Bahrain and will be keen to get behind the performing arts at BSB. I love all forms of music, but especially enjoy symphonic brass and powerful vocal music of all types.”
Born in the north of England, in Cumbria, he is sometimes mistaken for a famous UK comedian. “Students have commented that I look and sound like Peter Kay,” he said. “I do believe a sense of humour is important in all walks of life and can help you have a healthy sense of perspective.”
The hilarious northern joker once asked on stage: “If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?”
The test will come for Dr Wall in the new school year and he is confident he is well equipped to face the challenges ahead.
