Mark Greenow’s first summer school was 41 years ago. Now the Director of Millfield’s summer courses, he tells Melanie Butler what he has learned

Do you remember the fi rst summer school you worked in over 41 years ago?

Looking back on my first summer school now it seems like another world – it was Camp America in the late 70’s. Not EFL at all. I was an Activity Assistant.

I always tell the staff I have done all their jobs. I am getting nostalgic in my old age. My theme tune when I make a speech is One Direction’s “History.”

What do you know now that you wish you had known then?

It took me quite a few more summer schools – in various roles – to realise I was part of something important, potentially life changing.

I wish I had known then that the intense shared experience would stay with me forever. So many memories, even some of my first students’ names. It felt like all my senses were heightened. It was all so new and exciting. I consciously try to engineer this feeling of wonder, feel good factor, fun, into all my courses.

Millfield is known in EFL for looking after teachers and students. You recruit 100 teachers a year. What are you looking for?

We try to employ interested and interesting teachers, “Good Campers” who get it and get it done. I always tell them the more they give the students the more they will get back.

But we also believe teachers are here to teach. They can expect a truly supportive environment. We offer regular insets, study support, guest speakers.

Most importantly we give them space and time to think, prepare and develop. They teach in the mornings. They don’t have to put their shorts on in the afternoon and run around unless they want to.

We are lucky – about sixty per cent of our academic team return every summer.

You have just aced your latest British Council inspection – 13 areas of strength. What was the biggest challenge?

Like all seasonal providers, we are inspected on the same criteria as year-round schools. That’s the challenge, when suddenly it’s summer and my wonderful full-time team of 14 or so swells to 300 plus. We induct them, get the school going and then, it seems, the inspectors arrive.

I must add, though, and I have been through many inspections in my career, that I firmly believe in the process.

What was the thing you were most proud of in your latest inspection?

The buzzword this time was “triangulation” which means that inspectors separately interview key individuals and groups of stakeholders. Then they check that we are not only all saying the same things but also that we are all putting the theory into practice.

So, what I am most proud of by far is the support and consistency of all the staff, group leaders and students who stayed on message. I think our results prove above all else that we have an ingrained and shared sense of purpose and great teamwork.

“I think our results prove above all else that we have an ingrained and 
shared sense of purpose and great teamwork.”

British boarding schools have their own ethos, their philosophy. Many of us have heard of the ‘Millfi eld way’ – the special Millfi eld ethos – but how is it different?

Jack Meyer, the founding headmaster said, “I wanted to create a school where talent – in whatever field – could be nurtured through the best facilities, teaching, coaching and opportunities for young people to exercise and explore their abilities.”

In short, we still believe that everybody is good at something, whether that be tennis, cooking, maths or the violin. We strive to help every student develop that talent within.

And the summer school refl ects that…

It reflects that through our full-immersion process-based syllabus. We run a truly holistic programme full of learning experiences, planned and spontaneous, inside and outside the classroom. The Millfield way.

Finally, what has been your greatest achievement?

I’m passionate about what I do. Each individual student is important to me. I know the best thing I can give them to help them improve their English is a friend.

One advantage of the passage of time is that I have been able to see many of them grow up into fine individuals. I know that the summer school was an important part of their development because they tell me so. I regret the few, that for whatever reason, perhaps got away.

I feel that my greatest achievement – shared with many colleagues – is that we have touched countless young lives. Who knows, maybe the world is an ever so slightly better place because of this.