Home > About Bedales > Teacher Case Studies > Sarah Chubb, Housemistress & PSHE Teacher, Bedales

Sarah Chubb

Housemistress and Personal, Social & Health Education Teacher, Bedales

Certificate in Education, Stockwell College of Education, Kent

What makes a good teacher at Bedales?

"Someone who genuinely enjoys the company of young people, who has personal integrity and who does not try to be something they are not; Bedalians are terrier-like at spotting affectation!"

What are you trying to encourage and instil in your pupils?

"Self knowledge; the confidence to be proud of their talents and the honesty to face up to their shortcomings; integrity; kindness; tolerance; and empathy."

Apart from your teaching role, what else do you get involved with at the school?

Housemistress: "the flippant answer is that it was a rather extreme cure for 'empty nest syndrome' when my sons went off to university! The real answer is that I have been teaching for a very long time and I have realised that exam grades and university degrees are of little use if people are unhappy within themselves or have trouble relating to other people. My interest in holistic education brought me to Bedales and my focus has gradually shifted from the classroom to the emotional, social and spiritual development of the pupils."

Teaching Meditation: "a realisation that students need as many skills as possible to deal with the growing stress of the modern world."

Teaching PSHE at Dunhurst: "a desire to bridge the gap between preparatory and senior school. Much of my work has been in prep schools and I feel an affinity to students of this age as they approach the move to senior school."

Running Reading Club: "I really enjoy bringing a broad mix of people together and I love reading. This club is for staff and students of all ages. We do not select a set book, but we have supper together and just talk about books we have read recently. I keep a list of the books mentioned and circulate to everybody after the event."

Planning Committee: I care passionately about the buildings and grounds at Bedales. I enjoy searching the school archives for pictures of how the estate used to look and am very involved in fighting against certain "modernisation". Unfortunately, Health and Safety regulations and constant financial restraints mean that we have had to make certain adaptations over the years, but I will always try hard to protect the rustic feel of the estate. I would like to see more areas left to run wild with uncut grass; I would like more subtle lighting and fewer intrusive signs. I suppose "shabby chic"in a rural kind of way is what I mean. I would hate the estate to become too smart and municipal in its appearance."

In your opinion, what makes Bedales special?

"The relationship between the students and, more importantly, the relationship between the adults and the students; the tone of voice, the honesty, integrity and mutual respect in our conversations is very special to Bedales. Despite the lack of meaningless formality, the social interactions I have witnessed here are the most polite and respectful I have ever experienced."

What is your best memory of Bedales?

"Oh there are so many:

• Watching dawn break over Steephurst pitches on the last morning of the summer term after a long night on duty.
• A large number of students stopping and asking how I am feeling when I have been off sick.
• Students wandering past my window as I sit at Sunday breakfast with friends, popping their heads in to say hello and ending up spending the morning chatting and delighting us with their company.
• Reading Club dinners that end with 6.2 English Literature students bound for Oxbridge reading Super Ted books.
• Taking a headmaster friend to a Fireside on a Saturday night: roaring log fire, the dining room lit by candles and students and staff lolling on sofas, playing guitars and singing. The look on his face was priceless - all he could say was: “this shouldn't work - but he was charmed.
• The look of genuine sadness on the face of a school inspector as she left after spending a week with us; she seemed really moved by the openness of the students and she said: "at the beginning of the week I couldn’t see how this would work, but it certainly does."

Who or what inspires you?

"Mr Badley's courage and vision in challenging the educational status quo; his enthusiasm and single-mindedness in creating this school based on his idealism balanced by pragmatism."

Tell us something not a lot of people know about you.

"I am a very open person and most students know a good deal about my family and my life before Bedales. Anything they don't know is private for a reason!"

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