Framlinghamian 2022 - Flipbook - Page 10
SPEECH DAY
Head Boy, Joe Lipman
Framlingham is, I hope, an honest school.
We try to do what we say on the tin. I
believe we do it very well. We do not
get everything right – who does? – and
it is a compliment to our parent body
that whenever a parent comes in with a
concern, 9 times out of 10 they have a
point and we have to be honest enough
to admit that: that is how we improve.
But I do believe Fram is honest, kind and
purposeful, with a strong moral compass.
It is also real, which means that there are
times when our pupils are not honest, kind
or displaying a strong moral compass: that
is when a school or a community has to
prove its mettle and it is in how we respond
as a community to such incidents as we
have experienced at times this year that
we will – rightly – be judged. There is not
a school in the land that does not have to
face up to such issues and incidents – the
key is how you respond, and we have never
tried to duck our responsibility or paper
over any cracks, and I was hugely grateful
to receive so many notes and emails of
support from parents and members of the
local community in the difficult weeks that
we faced last term. I will always stress that
parenting is more important than schooling
– but both are stronger when they work in
harmony.
And this brings me to one important
thank-you that I so want to say today: to
our parents. We do not underestimate for
a moment the trust that you parents place
in us when choosing this school, and I do
believe we are truly blessed with our parent
body. I have always said that the better we
know our parents the easier our job is; we
are trying to achieve the same thing after
all, and for that communication and trust is
critical. Trust depends on all parties being
honest with each other and I hope you feel
we honour our side of that bargain.
I would also like to extend my thanks
8
THE FRAMLINGHAMIAN 2019
Head Girl, Rose Winter
to the ever-supportive Society of Old
Framlinghamians. From our very first day
here they have welcomed Amanda and I
into the fold. People who care – deeply
– about the College and people who,
individually and collectively, have expressed
that support financially through their hugely
generous donations over the years. There
are not many major building projects over
the years that have not been financed
in large part by the Society alongside
individual alumni. I am pleased to say that
our relationship is both very close (I hope
almost symbiotic) and hugely valued: and
I am very proud to have been made an
honorary Old Framlinghamian.
Our governing body also contains some
OFs among its number. The role of the
governor has changed beyond recognition
even in my 10 years as a Head. I have
to pinch myself to remind me that these
people are volunteers! They work so hard
on our behalves – and I can’t tell you
how many times they are in contact from
holidays abroad or at home - and long
gone are the days when being a governor
was about turning up to a couple of
meetings and grand occasions. There is
now a robust structure that covers all the
key areas of school, allowing them to hold
the executive to account through regular
proactive and supportive scrutiny. They
have offered nothing but support to me
as Headmaster, and they are in my view
the unsung heroes of the College. They
know the school so well, are strategic and
forward-looking in outlook, and I hope
they know how much their wholehearted
commitment is appreciated. Thank you.
I have also been blessed with the two
Chairs of Governors I have worked with,
both of whom have taught me so much
in so many ways. I thoroughly enjoyed
sharing the last 8 of Andrew Fane’s 17
years as Chairman and spoke at length
Head of School, Liberty Salsby
about those a couple of years ago. The first
two years of Bill Rimmer’s Chairmanship
have been equally enjoyable and I have
greatly valued his wise counsel, steadfast
support, his judicious challenging of my
position on various issues and, importantly,
his wonderful company. Probably most
importantly it was Bill’s hand on the tiller
of the hugely thorough and professional
(and I would say successful) process that
led to the appointment of Louise North
and it is clear that he and Louise already
have a very good working relationship.
That relationship with Andrew Fane
was critical to my early years here, and
I know that Louise will enjoy the same
wise support from Bill. Andrew and Bill
– both hugely accomplished in their own
fields - are very different in the way they
operate, but they share a passion for young
people and education that means their
wholehearted commitment to the school
can only come from a true and generous
sense of vocation. How blessed are we
that they chose to pursue that vocation at
Framlingham College.
I think we all know how lucky we are to
be working and learning in this beautiful
place. I am a great believer that we all
respond to our environments – perhaps
without even knowing – and there are not
many better than here. That said, it will
always be people more than buildings
and settings that make a school. I can
say with confidence that the staff here are
outstanding – and by that I mean both
support staff and academic staff. Not
only are our grounds and buildings kept
in quite beautiful condition, and the food
here as good as any school I’ve worked
at or visited – so they are all very good
at their jobs - but it is the warmth of the
smiles that greet you and the willingness
to go out of their way to help anyone
that makes them so special and such
an important and affirming part of this