Berkshire

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-Thorngrove-2.jpg" alt="Nick Graham Head of Thorngrove School Highclere Berkshire" class="wp-image-68069" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-Thorngrove-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-Thorngrove-2-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-Thorngrove-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-Thorngrove-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



He&#8217;s a man with a passion for sustainability, Meat Loaf and cheese. Nick Graham&nbsp;made his head debut at Thorngrove in September 2022, and now we&#8217;re putting him in the Muddy hot seat to find out what really makes him tick. Buckle up, Mr Graham&#8217;s in da house and ready to spill the tea.&nbsp;



30 second elevator pitch for your school – sell it!



Our children only get one chance at childhood, and it should be enjoyed. It’s not all about academics. The academics are incredibly important, but building a school where they are part of a community and learn life skills is vital. Education is a process. You don&#8217;t just come in and come out. For me, Thorngrove is about community. It’s a place where children are grounded, kind and have the skills to go into an ever evolving and ever-changing world with adaptability flexibility and kindness.



Who would you like to star as you in the movie?&nbsp;



I have quite a dry sense of humour. One of my all-time favourite programmes growing up was&nbsp;Bottom, so it would have to be Rick Mayall. Sadly, it&#8217;s not possible as he passed away 10 years ago, but he&#8217;s my comic icon.



You’ve been given a £1m donation for the school, what will you spend it on?



We&#8217;ve got three projects we&#8217;re working on: a new Astro pitch, a performing arts centre and I would also love to increase the number of bursaries we offer. Means tested bursaries are already available, but I&#8217;d love to open it up to more children in the local area who would flourish&nbsp;at a school like Thorngrove.



Describe your own childhood school days.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1200" height="1600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child.jpg" alt="NICK GRAHAM HEAD OF THORNGROVE SCHOOL IN A WHEAT FIELD AS A CHILD" class="wp-image-68071" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child.jpg 1200w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Nick-Graham-child-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></figure>



I wasn&#8217;t the best student, but I loved sport and was quite competitive. I also liked to form good relationships with my teachers, largely to avoid the work I needed to be doing. I went to a local state school – St John&#8217;s in Marlborough – and loved my time there. My father taught at Marlborough College, so the difference in the opportunities was obvious. I really cherished the opportunities I had to be outside at the end of the school day. I&#8217;d head into the woods to build dens and wouldn&#8217;t arrive home until 6.30pm. Heaven.



What was the common theme of your school reports?



Could do better! Other than in Geography I don’t think I was ever stretched and so I feel I could have achieved more. I’ve actually got more qualifications after my school career.



Favourite teacher was Mr Cook who taught geography. He was just great. He saw I had potential and he pushed me in a firm but fair way. There is nothing better than having a teacher who is invested in you. Worst teacher? I&#8217;m dyslexic (it wasn&#8217;t picked up until I was at uni) and I had a history teacher who always picked me up on my spelling and grammar.&nbsp;



Best and worst subject at school?



Geography and theatre studies were my best. I loved getting up on stage and performing. My least favourite subject? Maths – but that was largely down to poor teaching. You can see how teaching has evolved in the right way.



Where did you go to uni, what did you study – and the highs and lows of student life



I went to Oxford Brookes University and studied Environmental Building Design and Conservation. My plan was to go into environmental sustainability and work for the Building Research Establishment. I played rugby for a club and one of the coaches worked at The Dragon in Oxford. He told me they had a super stooge position (aka graduate teacher) and asked if I would be interested in doing it for a year. I ended up staying at The Dragon for 10 years and worked my way up to head of department.&nbsp;



If you weren’t a head, what would you be?



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1280" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester.jpg" alt="Old Winchester Old Winchester from Made by Lyburn Cheese in Salisbury." class="wp-image-68075" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester.jpg 1920w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Old-Winchester-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Old Winchester from Made by Lyburn Cheese</figcaption></figure>



I&#8217;m a big cheese fan so I would love to own my own shop. I have recently completed my Level 1 Master of Cheese. On qualification day I was the only attendee who didn&#8217;t work in the industry. The others included a major supermarket cheese buyer and a sommelier from one of London&#8217;s Michelin star restaurants. Favourite cheese? Baron Bigod from Sussex and Old Winchester from Made by Lyburn Cheese in Salisbury.



Describe what’s on your work desk (and what’s in the top drawer)



Well done cards for the children for notes to say they&#8217;ve done well. Top drawer: a torch and confiscated items – mainly Rubik&#8217;s Cubes.



Funniest story from your teaching career



I remember working at a large Prep school in Oxford and we took a group of Y8s on a punting trip. I was taking some of the more challenging children. We hid in some bushes to ambush the boat of kids with the Director of Sport. Little did we know they had lost their paddle and the boat coming towards us contained the headmaster&#8217;s wife. Without looking, we proceeded to splash water!



Your favourite books – childhood, uni and now



I’m a big fan of Matthew Syed’s books. I loved Bounce and I’m currently reading Black Box Thinking, which is about the organisational psychology of fast progress by facing up to failure. His 2018 book, You Are Awesome is my favourite for younger readers. You also can’t beat Julia Donaldson books for children.



What’s the best school trip (childhood or current) you’ve ever been on?



We used to do a school exchange to Japan. I lead that twice and it was amazing. We stayed with families in Tokyo. We also did one to Majorca and got stuck out there for an extra 10 days due to the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud.&nbsp;



The book, TV show/film and play all kids should discover



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Untitled-design-241.jpg" alt="You are Awesome by Matthew Syed and Matilda Tyhe Muscial" class="wp-image-68074" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Untitled-design-241.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Untitled-design-241-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Untitled-design-241-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Untitled-design-241-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/07/Untitled-design-241-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



You Are Awesome&nbsp;by Matthew Syed is a great book for every child to read. They have to find their own way and discover what&#8217;s good for them. David Attenborough natural history shows are a must watch and&nbsp;every child should see&nbsp;Matilda The Musical&nbsp;on stage. It’s brilliantly written and staged.



The song you sing at full volume when everyone’s gone home?



Meat Loaf&#8217;s&nbsp;Bat out of Hell.



If you want to hide from the kids and staff for half an hour, where do you go?&nbsp;



The woods.&nbsp;



Advice you’d give your younger self – and your current student?



Always be open to ideas and challenges. Life will throw some curve balls at you, so try everything and discover the things that suit you best.



<a href="https://www.thorngroveschoolsport.co.uk/Default.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thorngrove School</a>, The Mount, Pantings Lane, Highclere, Newbury RG20 9PS. Tel:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=THORGROVE+SCHOOL&amp;rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB726GB728&amp;oq=THORGROVE+SCHOOL&amp;aqs=chrome..69i57j46i13i175i199j0i13l7.2466j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">01635 253172</a>



INTRIGUED?



<ul>
<li><a href="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/school-reviews/thorngrove-school-highclere-berkshire/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read the Muddy review of Thorngrove School, Highclere</a>.</li>
</ul>

Head’s up: Nick Graham of Thorngrove School, Highclere

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