Meet the Head teacher of years 7-11 at d’Overbroeck’s school in Oxford

Nick Haines has recently moved into the role of Head of Years 7-11 at d’Overbroeck’s, which is the day school for children aged 11-16. d’Overbroeck’s also has an International School for overseas students aged 13-16, and a self-contained Sixth Form centre. Years 7-11 at d’Overbroeck’s is a co-educational day school, drawing students from the local area and further afield. Years 7-11 covers a broad curriculum from Year 7 through to GCSE. Students are encouraged to enjoy learning, to be curious and think outside the box. d’Overbroeck’s value choice, engagement and enjoyment, and offer plenty of opportunities for students to try new things and develop their talents. We asked Nick a few questions:

1. WHAT AND / OR WHO INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A TEACHER AND LATER A HEADTEACHER?

I’ve always loved learning and had some great teachers who made space for students to explore ideas within and beyond their subject areas, often simply for the joy of it. This was the kind of teacher I wanted to be, and I was delighted when I joined d’Overbroeck’s to find it full of such people, as well as students who were excited to learn in that way. During my career I’ve loved working with teachers and students to realise that ambition; becoming a Headteacher wasn’t part of a grand plan, but when the opportunity arose to lead such an incredible community, I really couldn’t say no!

2. WHAT DOES BEING A HEADTEACHER OF A SCHOOL MEAN TO YOU?

Simply, creating and sustaining an environment where everyone in our community can thrive. d’Overbroeck’s has a distinctive and cherished ethos; my responsibility is to sustain and preserve this whilst at the same time developing the school in response to a changing world.

3. HOW DO YOU THINK A HEADTEACHER OF A SCHOOL CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO AN INDIVIDUAL STUDENT?

I am fortunate that we have some of the best teachers in the industry working at d’Overbroeck’s; a big part of my job is simply enabling them to do theirs and then watching the magic happen! That said, being a small school, I have the privilege of getting to know every student and family on an individual level. We’re a school that is highly responsive to students’ ideas, opinions, and needs: I am regularly visited either by School Council representatives or individual students, and take great pleasure in helping them to fulfil their aims and ambitions for themselves or for the school as a whole.

4. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PARENTS LOOKING AT PRIVATE EDUCATION FOR THE FIRST TIME?

It’s essential to find the right school for your family. Oxfordshire has a huge variety of school options on offer: but always bear in mind that schools are made of people, not buildings or brochures! Visit, ask questions, visit again, and ask more questions…

5. D’OVERBROECK’S IS MADE UP OF THREE SCHOOL SITES: YEARS 7 - 11, THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AND THE SIXTH FORM. WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE FOR HAVING THESE INDIVIDUAL SITES?

We describe ourselves as a mushroom shaped school; our small Years 7-11 and International School sites feed into our Sixth Form, where these students are joined by whole community of new prospective friends from a range of other schools and countries.

So our 7-11 students develop their love of learning in a cosy, nurturing setting of friends who live nearby, our GCSE international students take their first steps into the UK system surrounded by friends going through the same learning journey, and then these students all move into a diverse mix of nationalities, life experiences and personalities. By the end of Sixth Form these students have been prepared for an enormous range of future routes and opportunities, which they’ll share with friends for life, whether they met aged 11 or 16.

6. IN NOVEMBER 2022, D’OVERBROECK’S WAS AWARDED THE TITLE OF A ‘MICROSOFT SHOWCASE SCHOOL’ IN RECOGNITION OF YOUR EXCELLENCE IN DIGITAL INNOVATION FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK DIGITAL INNOVATION IS FOR YOUR STUDENTS’ BOTH NOW AND FOR THEIR FUTURE?

Microsoft describes its Showcase Schools as those which “…create student-centered, immersive, and inclusive experiences that inspire lifelong learning, stimulating development of essential future-ready skills so students are empowered to achieve more.”

For us it’s about recognising that our students will be facing a very competitive world ahead of them, and to prepare them for this we need to stay agile and on top of developments in the educational sector. Today’s students need new strengths and unprecedented versatility to navigate their futures. The technology we use, the spaces in which we learn, and the systems we use can all help develop these skills and reflect these aims.

7. WHAT WERE YOUR PREVIOUS ROLES, AND WHAT LASTING MEMORIES HAVE YOU TAKEN FROM THOSE SCHOOLS?

I started my career at the Judd School, Tonbridge, and have been at d’Overbroeck’s since 2010. During my time here I’ve been Head of Mathematics, and then Deputy Academic Director, leading on teaching-andlearning and staff development. My central takeaway from all of these is that if we begin every conversation with “What will be the best outcome for our students, and how do we achieve it?”, then we’ll rarely go too far wrong.

8. WHAT IS YOUR REAL-LIFE SUPERPOWER? Necessarily, speed! I’m rarely at my desk for long: there’s far too much interesting stuff going on and I don’t want to miss any of it.

9. RELAXING HOLIDAY OR ACTIVE HOLIDAY?

With three small children of my own, holidays are always active!