Harjit Gammon chats to the outgoing Principal of the Stamford Endowed Schools (SES)

A quiet, unassuming manner belies the fiercely committed educationalist, who for the past 11 years has firmly guided and steered the SES through ever more challenging times, in what was a newly created post due to the simultaneous retirement of two heads and the resultant opportunity for change. Withdrawal of RAF supported places, the threat to County Scholarships and the growing pressure on independent academic establishments to justify their charitable status are just some of the challenges with which he has had to contend, and that’s just in the last few years!

Refreshingly un-pushy in a world where form is often confused with substance, Dr Mason has many achievements to his credit. Chief amongst which is the uniting and harmonising of three disparate schools; Stamford School, Stamford High School and Stamford Junior School into a cohesive “family of three Schools, proud to belong to one another”. From the disjointed fee structures through fragmented teaching styles he has, together with his team, fashioned a “community of education” which caters for children from the age of 2 (the Early Bird Nursery was started under his direction in 1998) through to 18, and advocates inclusivity. Rooted in the local community, the Schools continue to fulfil the historic mission which they were founded to do in 1532. “Socially diverse and socially at ease, wealth is not”, he tells me, “a feature of the culture of the Schools”. He has also spearheaded joint sixth form teaching since 2000, offering 28 A level subjects taught together across the Schools.

Based for the first three years of his tenure at the High School, he has remained very involved and hands on throughout, whether teaching chemistry to the girls at the High School or ICT to parents on Saturday mornings, taking assemblies at the junior school, or meticulously planning welcome receptions for language students, right down to the seating plans for dinner. His attention to detail has been an unfailing characteristic, whether in his capacity as a host (ably supported by his wife Sue, while pursuing her own career), or in knowing something about each and every child in the Schools.

Aside from his massive contribution to the Schools he has remained actively interested in broader education issues, and will in fact continue to pursue these interests in his “retirement” working with National Examination Boards. Dyl Powell, head, Stamford High School tells me that “he is quite a nationally known and prominent figure”. The list of positions he holds on various national bodies amply testifies to this; HMC, chair of curriculum committee, member of the Girls School Association, AQA governing council, governor of an independent school. After 34 years in teaching, he is well placed to reflect on what he describes as the “challenge as a nation, aside from the utilitarian aspect, of education, is the role of learning as a human activity. People become more human by learning who we are, the way we live, the way we live with others and our contribution to the society in which we live”.

I spoke to some of the SES body to form a picture of this most modest man.
This is what they said:

David Moss- Bowpitt: Marketing & Development Director “I shall remember emails from him at 5.30 in the morning of very detailed documents which he had already précised and his love of complex data spreadsheets”

Stuart Roche: Head Boy, Stamford School
“He’s a nice guy. His trademark is walking up and down the aisles as he speaks during assemblies. Heads turn to listen to him. He also jingles his change in his pockets and has some eccentric hand movements”

Jennifer Reiss: Head Girl, Stamford High School
“He knows everything about everything. He reads your UCAS, knows all your grades and marks in the modules”

Jackie Cattell: PA to Dr Mason
“Students here like his calm nature and approach to life. He knows them and finds out about them...he moves about quietly. What you see is what you get. Genuine, amenable, approachable”

Dyl Powell: Head, Stamford High School
“He loves statistics in any form. They’re his piece de resistance, a phenomenal skill. He is always optimistic, and can see merit in everything. He cares passionately about the Schools’ past and future”

Dominique Evans, CPG / Alternative Curriculum, Stamford High School
“He has the courage to break new ground. He inspires staff and students with his drive and diplomacy”

Stephen Roberts joins SES from Felsted School in September to take up the post of Principal.