Focus on Alumni
Alastair Ingall (Manufacturing Engineering, 1997) is Headmaster at Holyport College, a state boarding school in Berkshire which is partnered with nearby Eton College.
Learning at Cambridge was markedly collaborative. The Robinson community in particular provided so much opportunity to encourage and support one another. By the time I graduated from Robinson, I knew I loved thinking about the process by which we learn and spending time helping others learn. Equally fun, was persuading people to ‘have a go’ and make the most of opportunities from early morning rowing to late night bopping.
I did the ‘milkround’ and landed a job at the strategy consultant, Marakon Associates. A dip in business gave me an opportunity to defer my start by six months; I used the opportunity to get a temporary job teaching Maths at the Petersfield School, a comprehensive in Hampshire and test whether I ‘had what it takes to teach’. I was thrown in at the deep end with no formal training and found that on several occasions I didn’t yet have what it takes. After nearly four busy years with Marakon, I handed in my notice to start a PGCE. Twenty years on I have never once regretted joining the teaching profession: challenging and rewarding in equal measure - it’s been a wonderful journey.
I now live, with my wife Alexandra (Classics, 1997) and three children at Holyport College. It’s been a big change moving out of busy London to join this ambitious but inclusive school but we’ve been welcomed with open arms by the Holyport community. Despite the busyness of Headship, I’m still finding time to be involved in coaching sport, teaching a bit of maths and preparing some of our students for their Oxbridge interviews.
Headteachers have so many ‘plates to spin’: developing the curriculum, championing the extra-curricular, managing the finances, supporting students and parents, marketing and leading. One of the most important roles is recruiting brilliant staff - and I am so blessed at Holyport to work with such a capable, dynamic, supportive leadership and wider staff teams. It makes all the difference.
State boarding schools are rare and unique - the government pays for the education but parents sponsor the boarding. We are hugely ambitious for our students in every aspect of their lives. We have a strong academic focus but also put a lot of emphasis on ‘joy’: the vibrant, optimistic energy that makes learning and living exciting. We know that children who are happy, flourishing and valued in school do better so ensuring that Holyport College provides a joyous education matters.
Every student has their own iPad in lessons which allows teachers to personalise the learning journey with the best possible resources to challenge and support each student. Finally, we teach kindness - our staff are kind and we expect our students to reflect that in their dealings with one another.
In summary, our approach is full of ambition, joy and kindness so our young people can really flourish in every way.