Page 34 - ELG1807 July Issue 459

INTERVIEW .

admin staff on every policy, every record, every
file. ‘I think inspections may be even tougher
on the administrators than the teachers. They
have to start on the process much earlier.
They are working on it for longer.’
‘At this point in the process,’ admits Jane, Wimbledon School of English
‘nobody likes us very much.’ ‘We irritate
everyone,’ agrees Fiona. Which is where the
training kicks in.
Continuous professional development London
(CPD) is the watchword at Wimbledon. Jane
has championed it for years, campaigning to
make it an essential element of the inspection. Proud to be named as the top English language
And training is not just for teachers. Take
accommodation manager Julie Ransley,
previously a host parent for the school. school in the UK for the 5th year running
Fiona Dunlop, Now, she runs training seminars for other
Jane Dancaster and host families,’ says Jane.
Sandro Saviolo With inspection looming, the admin team
Two Wimbledon aces sprang into action under the aegis of director Exam Preparation
of operations Sandro Saviolo, who arrived as
a student in 1983, ably assisted by registrar
Barbara Goodson. (IELTS, OET and Cambridge)
‘An inspector said to me,’ says Jane with a
Jane Dancaster and Fiona Dunlop of Wimbledon grin, ‘every school needs a Barbara’.
School of English explain how they became the first Director of studies Shanel Summers rallied
school in the UK to achieve a perfect score in two the teachers. Formerly the school’s learning Academic Preparation
technologies manager, she also had to prepare
British Council inspections in a row to spend hours closeted with the inspectors.
‘You have to show them what you are
doing,’ says Jane, ‘and then tell them why you Young Learners Courses
ake one family-owned school in a to the criteria was released in September are doing it.’ And then do it well. To get a
leafy historic village just 20 minutes but the updated handbook didn’t appear perfect score, everybody has to do everything
from central London, add a team until December, barely two months before well.
Tof super-qualified teachers and a Wimbledon’s inspection. ‘What I think is really good about the Business and Professional Training
reputation for throwing great parties and you ‘We were only the second school to be inspection process,’ says Fiona, ‘is that it gets
have the recipe for a great language school. inspected under the new criteria,’ says Jane. the whole school working together as a team,
Is it that simple? Not according to Jane The detailed work began, the two pored over all working to the same goal. ’
Dancaster and Fiona Dunlop of Wimbledon the handbook checking every single detail. ‘I also think the British Council inspection Teacher Training
School of English, and they should know. is the best scheme in the industry,’ says Jane.
Wimbledon was the first school in the UK What I think is really ‘It really keeps you on your toes.’
to get a perfect score in its British Council But even the mighty Wimbledon team
inspection and now they have just become the good about the inspection admit they cannot do it without support.
first school to do it twice in a row. What is the process is that it gets Being a member of TEN, the association of top Bringing English to the world since 1964
secret? Train. Keep on training. the whole school working non-chain schools, is very helpful, says Jane.
And plan down to the last tiny detail. But the most important ingredient is the Over 90 nationalities each year
At Wimbledon School of English they together as a team, support of the school’s owners.
prepare for an inspection with military all working to the same ‘We really couldn’t do this without the
precision, like the Household Cavalry Housdon family,’ Jane says. Beautiful building in ideal London location
preparing for a royal parade. I meet the two goal They support us in everything we do. ‘We
Wimbledon commanders for lunch. Jane, are very lucky,’ says Fiona. Excellent accommodation close to school
managing director of the school, combines Then Jane produced her ‘list’. ‘I write So how did Wimbledon School celebrate
a penchant for colourful clothes and an down every single thing we need to do and hard work and the luck that earned them
infectious sense of humour with one of the who needs to do it. For example, Gvidas (the their second perfect score? ‘We all partied the
best business brains in EFL. facilities co-ordinator) has to fix the bathroom night away in the pub,’ Jane says. These two
Principal Fiona is an educationalist to her mirror. Then I check that Gvidas has fixed Wimbledon women may pride themselves
Scottish finger tips and the very definition of the mirror.’ Fiona marshals the paperwork, in running a ‘serious, academic school with
doughty: ‘determined, brave and unwilling aided by the invaluable Duncan, one of the highly professional staff’... but they also really
ever to stop trying to achieve something’. academic managers and working with the know how to throw a party.
A lunch with these two ladies is filled with
laughter, but when it comes to inspections
they are very serious indeed.
They do it by the book, the British Council
handbook, the document that outlines in
detail the hundred or so criteria that must be
met at inspection.
The secret to getting a perfect score, Jane
tells me, is to make sure you meet every single
one. But in their most recent inspection,
the book was slow in coming. A revision Wimbledon School of English team
34 July 2018
A special interest group of English UK

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