The CBB :: View topic - Chalet School, Specialist School

#1: Chalet School, Specialist School Author: Cryst,

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:28 am

Well here goes. I haven't done this before, so please be gentle. Are there any real-life teachers out there? I took to wondering how the co-Heads would cope with modern day state school management.

Miss Annersley laid down her fountain pen with a long sigh, moving her shoulders slowly to ease the tension that had built up while she had been marking a particularly poor piece of work produced by Hilda Jukes, a large good-natured girl, an ornament of VIb. Her co-Head, Miss Wilson, glanced up from her own work with surprise. “Hilda dear, is anything the matter? That sigh was enough to blow away this entire pile of papers.”

“I was just wondering whether some girls manage to learn anything at all during their years with us.” A despairing look came fleetingly across her face, but her customary good sense returned quickly, she shook herself, and said “Come along Nell, it must be about time for our Kaffee und Kuchen – let’s go through into the sitting room.”

As they sank into the comfortable armchairs, covered with pretty flowered material, the door burst open and one of the school maids came in bearing a tray complete with coffee jug, delicate china cups and saucers, and a plate of delicious-looking pastry twists. She slammed it down onto the small side table next to Miss Annersley with such force that the cups rattled and a few drops of coffee were ejected from the spout of the jug onto the daintily embroidered tray-cloth. She turned, and strode out of the room, glaring at Miss Wilson as she went past.

“I say, Nell”, said Miss Annersley in surprise, “What on earth have you done to the maid? She looked as if she could quite cheerfully murder you.”

Miss Wilson looked thoughtful. “I believe some of the support staff are rather anxious about the whole school review of staffing structures that we are about to embark upon. You’ll recall that I got them all together last evening to discuss the Workforce Reform Agenda, and despite my best efforts at explanation, they were exhibiting some anxiety about the process, as well as a certain amount of scepticism as to its necessity.”

“Of course, that’ll be it,” replied Miss Annersley, “though I must say I believe that I drew the shorter straw. My initial consultation meeting with the teaching staff was equally bumpy, if not more so. One or two of them are most concerned at the forthcoming loss of their management allowances. We need to arrive quite quickly at our plans for the allocation of the new teaching and learning responsibility payments so as to allay their fears.”

Both women looked troubled. Despite the sunshine pouring into the charming little room, the panoramic mountain views, the vision of the Jungfrau against a clear blue sky, and the frost sparkling on the newly fallen snow drifting outside the picture window, their responsibilities as co-Heads of the successful Chalet School were weighing heavily on them at the start of this Spring term.

Last edited by Cryst on Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:53 pm; edited 9 times in total

#2: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:34 am

Thanks, Cryst. Well done for starting a drabble so very soon after joining the board! You have a lot more courage than I ever did - it took me 3 months to work up the courage! This looks really good and I look forward to reading more. I hope relations will improve between the Heads and the rest of the staff.

#3: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:45 am

This is why I am so glad I am now only a supply teacher. Laughing

#4: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:45 am

Thanks Cryst. Congratulations on starting your first drabble. I am looking forward to finding out how lesson planning fits in with putting everything aside to go out ski-ing or swimmimg!

#5: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 1:49 pm

This looks interesting - wonder how they'll manage.

Thanks Cryst

Liz

#6: Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:12 pm

Thank-you Cryst- this is promising to be a very interesting drabble. I hope the Heads will soon be on better terms with their staff!! Very Happy

#7: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 5:14 pm

Brilliant idea! Thanks for starting this Cryst.

Two words which will definitely cause Hilda and Nell headaches - risk-assessments!

#8: Hilda and Nell coping with DfES, updated 3 Jan, 23:30 Author: Cryst,

Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:33 pm

Here's the next bit ...

The door opened quietly and an efficient-looking young woman entered, bearing a pile of letters. “Rosalie, do come and join us for Kaffee.” said Miss Wilson. “Get yourself an extra coffee cup from the cupboard and draw up a chair.”

“I was just bringing in your post.” she replied, placing her burden down on the coffee table alongside the tray. “The train up from the valley was late this morning due to the heavy snowfall overnight, and I thought you would want to catch up as soon as possible”.

“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” replied Miss Annersley. “How lucky we are to have you to keep our noses to the grindstone.”

Rosalie Dene, the school’s secretary, grimaced, then with the hint of a smile replied carefully, “Item 4(a) in the new job description, I believe, Miss Annersley?”

The dignified Headmistress, scrutinising the face of the younger woman, was able to read her well enough to realise that her leg was being ever so gently pulled, and replied with a deep and musical laugh, “Well we’d better see what enthralling correspondence is in that pile of yours then hadn’t we! Where’s that cup? How would you like it – milky as usual?”

The ceremony with the coffee cups quickly completed and pastries handed round, Miss Annersley sifted swiftly through the post, sorting white from manila envelopes and deducing their contents from a combination of envelope, postmark, and handwriting. “Several requests for our prospectus… the usual selection of bills… letters from parents wishing to impart a surprising variety of information and instructions concerning their daughters. Ah, this is more like it, a letter from an old girl overseas, we’ll read that one together later, shall we Nell? But what’s this?” Coming to the bottom of the pile she held up a large, thick, brown envelope. “Gracious, it weighs a ton – any ideas, Rosalie?”

“To judge by the postmark, it’s another directive from the Board of Trustees.” she replied astutely.

“Oh drat them,” said Miss Wilson with an uncharacteristic note of irritation in her voice. ”can’t they just let us get on with the job? I know they are men, and we are only women, and unmarried ones at that, but after all we are here running the school and they are not.”

“Well let’s just see what it says,” replied her co-Head, slitting open the envelope with the engraved silver paper knife she kept on her side table for just such a purpose. “Goodness, how can they expect anyone to read such a heavy document? What can it be about? Ah, here we are…. enclose guidance and application forms … Specialist School Programme … the Board of Trustees requires the co-Heads … the school will apply for Specialist Status in the Spring round… closing date 8 March.”

“What?” ejaculated Miss Wilson “That’s less than two months away, and we are only just getting the new term under way, with at least one very difficult new girl to contend with. What is more, Matron is warning us that several of the girls are looking under the weather – this is the term for sickness you know – we are expecting an epidemic of some highly contagious disease any day now. We each have a heavy teaching and pastoral load in addition to our demanding management duties, without this sort of nonsense landing in our laps.”

“Calm down, dear” soothed Miss Annersley, dividing the deep pile of papers approximately in half, “three inches each. Let’s read it through and see if we can make any sense of it.”

#9: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:15 am

This is fascinating....thank you very much Cryst.

Loved Nell's acid comment about the Board of Trustees! And good luck to them with that pile of paperwork!

#10: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:41 am

Thanks Cryst Very Happy

Three inches each Shocked

Liz

#11: Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 10:29 am

I presume they are specialising in the way that most English secondary schools are now specialists?

In which case, languages as their specialism?

#12: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 12:36 pm

I think I may take a copy of this to all the heads I get to meet as I go round schools - and watch them groan in sympathy! Laughing

That three inch pile sounds very familiar!

It's wonderful, Cryst. Thank you.

#13: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:08 pm

Thanks, Cryst. The part about the job description made me laugh.

#14: Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:31 pm

Oh my god, three inches!!! Shocked

*gulps*
Thank-you Cryst!!!!

#15: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 7:45 pm

Rosy wrote:

I presume they are specialising in the way that most English secondary schools are now specialists?

Exactly! And should you feel the need, you can download and print three inches for yourself from here: http://www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/specialistschools/

Rosy wrote:

In which case, languages as their specialism?

You'd think so, wouldn't you, but ...

#16: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:10 am

The best answer to that sort of thing is to retire.

The worst of it is that this sort of initiative takes away the time that teachers should be spending on their real work. It can dull the passion that you feel for your subject because you're so tired.

#17: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 2:44 pm

Oooooh I wonder what they will be specialising as....This could be interesting.

Thanks Cryst

#18: Hilda and Nell cope with DfES, updated 5 Jan Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:39 pm

Thanks for the tip Jennie. Laughing

Am now working on making myself dispensable in time for the next "early retirement" round. Hope I'm not boring you all to death. More later, after Abendessen ...

As the two Heads set to work digesting the contents of the brown envelope, with looks of ever-increasing incredulity spreading slowly across their faces, Miss Dene quietly finished her coffee, gathered up the rest of the post, rose, and left the room, saying softly that she would deal with the other items and bring the replies in later for signing.

For some ten minutes the two women sat reading, occasionally muttering with annoyance under their breath. Then there was a knock on the door and before either woman could respond, the door was flung open with a loud, clear and cheerful voice shouting “Coo-eee, anyone in?” The visitor, a tall woman with gay eyes and jet black hair worn in sleek coils over her ears, stopped short as she saw the two glum faces in front of her. “Well, whatever is the matter with you two? You look as if your head-girl and prefects have all come down with the flu and you’re faced with taking prep and games yourselves for a fortnight.”

“Worse than that, it’s another impossible decree from the Board of Trustees. Can’t you do anything about them, Joey? They are making our lives absolutely impossible of late.”

“What, not worse than Workforce Remodelling, surely?” she replied, jokingly. Then, seeing their faces, sat down and said “Ah, yes, by your faces it’s a trillion times worse than that. Nothing I can do about the old codgers on the Board, I’m afraid. That’s Madge’s and Dick’s department, not mine. But why don’t you tell me all about it and I’ll see if I can help at all. After all, a problem shared, and all that!”

“Joey Maynard”, exclaimed Miss Annersley, “your language hasn’t improved one iota for all you’re the mother of nine children.”

“Ah well, I’m not a schoolgirl any more, so you can’t fine me now!” she quipped back. “Never mind that now anyway; what’s this latest edict all about?”

Miss Wilson gave a wry smile, held out a wad of paper that she had already finished reading, and said “Stop bounding about the place and pull up a pew, Joey. You can read the wretched thing for yourself.”

They sat reading for some fifteen minutes, with occasional groans and outbursts of despairing laughter. Finally Miss Annersley looked up and said “I think we’d better stop at that for now – it’ll soon be time for Mittagessen. Heaven knows how we will deal with this – I think perhaps we should call a staff meeting this evening after Abendessen and throw it open for discussion – what do you think?

Miss Wilson replied “Yes, that would be best, Hilda. Would you like to join us Joey? You’d be most welcome – you usually manage to come up with some good ideas.”

“Oh rather, if you’ll have me, I wouldn’t miss their faces for all the icicles on the Görnetz Platz. Now I must dash. I only popped in to say hello as I was here to drop off a blouse that Margot forgot to pack, and Cecil will be ready for her lunch.”

#19: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:02 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I hope Joey can come up with a good plan.

#20: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:20 pm

I knew Joey would have to get involved sooner or later! Thanks Cryst.

#21: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:49 pm

THE STAFF MEETING

The joint staff of the main Chalet School and St Mildred’s, its finishing branch, were assembled expectantly in the staff room. The armchairs, sofas and the upright chairs the mistresses used when they were working at their tables were arranged loosely in a circle around the roaring log fire, and restorative cups of Mddle’s excellent coffee had been distributed. The co-Heads sat to one side of the fireplace and Joey Maynard was curled up with her legs tucked under her on the thick and colourful traditional Swiss woven mat covering much of the floor.

Miss Annersley coughed gently and the buzz of conversation died down. “Good evening, ladies,” she said in her deep musical voice, “I’m sorry to call you together for a staff meeting at such short notice, but needs must when the Board of Trustees drives!” The mistresses exchanged apprehensive glances. After the ruckus over the staffing structure review they had good reason to be suspicious about what was to follow. “Nell, would you like to start?”

Miss Wilson took the baton adroitly. “Yes indeed, Hilda, thank you. We are here to tell you that the Board of Trustees wishes us to become a Specialist School.”

“Specialist in what?” Kathie Ferrars interrupted in surprise.

“We’ll come to that,” said Miss Wilson rather in the manner she used with troublesome middles. She quoted from the papers in front of her, “Specialist schools are an important part of the Board of Trustees’ plans to raise standards. The Specialist Schools Programme helps schools, in partnership with private sector sponsors and supported by additional funding, to establish distinctive identities through their chosen specialisms and achieve their targets to raise standards.”

“But Nell, my little one, at the Chalet School we provide a broad education, we have here all the subjects and it is that we allow the girls to choose their areas of study. But why now would we specialise in one subject?”

“Apparently it doesn’t mean that we drop the other subjects, Mdlle,” replied Miss Wilson. “It states here that we must ‘deliver a broad and balanced education to all pupils’, so that means we will continue to maintain the full curriculum”.

“So does it mean that we will only admit girls showing particular aptitude and interest in the specialist subject?” asked Nancy Wilmot. “Lord knows we have had enough trouble assimilating the geniuses who already grace the establishment, without going out of our way to recruit a whole lot more.”

“No, not at all,” replied Miss Annersley, “We can continue to cater for all ability ranges, from duffer to genius, as we always have. We will be able to offer options in vocational and applied learning as well as academic study for the specialist subjects we choose.”

“That’s all very well,” interjected Joey, “but which specialism should we choose? There appear to be ten possibilities: Arts; Business & Enterprise; Engineering; Humanities; Languages; Maths & Computing; Music; Science; Sport; and Technology.”

#22: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 10:58 pm

I assume they'll go for languages, but I'd love to see them try science (how many accidents did they have in the labs?), business and enterprise (do any CS girls ever actually go into business?) or engineering (after they said that Jack Lambert was the only girl in the school who'd benefit from an engineering scholarship)!

Or humanities, of course - having lots and lots of history lessons sounds good to me.

Or maybe sport - wonder what the Dept of Education would make of all that ski-ing and boating. Or maybe too many people would end up still, grey and to all appearance dead

I love Hilda's non-PC comment about "from duffer to genius" Laughing

. Really enjoying this, thanks Cryst.

#23: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:13 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I wonder which subject they will specialise in.

#24: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2006 11:29 pm

*sits back to watch the ensuing cat-fight*

I would have assumed languages, but hmmm.....willing to wait and see. Thanks Cryst

#25: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:18 am

Hm, I suppose it will have to be languages. The only form of business studies any of the girls are ever shown as doing is typing lessons with Miss Dene.

#26: Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:56 pm

My school was a specialist technology college. That was fun all round. Yes...

#27: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:55 pm

No catfight I'm afraid, Francesn, they are all far too civilized for that. Here they go ...

“Yes, thank you Joey. That is rather the nub of the question. It is by no means an easy choice. Shall we consider them in turn?” This suggestion was rewarded by nods all round, so she carried on, “I think we can immediately discount Business & Enterprise, Technology and Engineering as these are not really suitable subjects for young ladies. Do we all agree?” A ripple of assent ran round the room.

“And I’m afraid that Science must be ruled out on the same grounds,” said Miss Wilson reluctantly, “although careers in Science are becoming increasingly acceptable for girls, we would be wrong to specialise in it at this time, I think. Are we all agreed?”

To judge by some of the faces around the room, this comment met with less unanimous approval, with Miss Armitage in particular looking a trifle peeved, but no-one voiced any objection, and Miss Annersley resumed her process of elimination.

“Music, then? Or the Arts? Now we have a strong reputation in these areas, with an excellent Music department, and Herr Laubach has, of course, established superb standards in our Art classes.”

Miss Lawrence, Mr Denny and Herr Laubach nodded in acknowledgement, though the latter had been exhibiting considerable agitation during the preceding discussion and one or two of the mistresses were keeping a wary eye on him in case his legendary temper became aroused.

Miss Annersley continued “And of course we have a strong tradition in Performing Arts, with all the girls taking part in the Nativity Play, or the Pantomime and sometimes even both. I’m sure mention of these activities would strengthen our case should we choose to apply for the Arts. So I think we should retain these as possibilities at least for now. Are we agreed?”

“My Hilda, I am not so sure.” Mdlle de Lachenais responded. “Here in the mountains we are so far from the great cultural centres of Europe, and the opportunities for collaboration and performance, they are few. Let us see how the other possibilities present themselves. How about the languages?”

“Languages, now there’s an idea!” said Joey. "The girls picked up several words of Welsh during the time spent on St Briavel’s Island, and one or two of them are now able to pass the time of day with the local people here in their own rough patois.”

“Trust you to support that idea. You always had the knack of becoming instantly fluent in any language you heard just a few words of,” said Miss Burnett, the games mistress, with a striking disregard for her grammar, “but most people don’t have your gift. Anyway, there was actually only the one word of Welsh learnt during the time spent in Wales. No, the school has no particular claim to expertise in language education in my opinion.”

“But …” Miss Charlesworth tried to say something, but wasn’t heard in the general hubbub of concurrence. Miss Annersley called them back to order. “So that leaves Humanities, Maths & Computing, and Sport,” she said. “What do you think, everyone?”

“What in heaven’s name is Computing?” asked Miss Burnett.

“Even I’m not sure just exactly what they mean by that,” answered Nancy Wilmot, the Head of Mathematics, in puzzlement, “so I’m afraid that probably rules that one out.”

“So then it’s sport, surely?” said Miss Burnett. “After all we have our skiing, sledging, skating, boating, swimming and rambling as well as tennis and cricket. We also usually manage to get some hockey and netball under our belts before the snows come in the autumn term.”

“But so many of the girls here, they are sickly,” said Mdlle de Lachenais, seemingly determined to pour cold water on all suggestions, “and the matches against other schools, they are so few, no?”

“Yes I agree Jeanne,” Miss Annersley said firmly, “with so many of the girls having relatives in the San we have to keep a careful eye on their health, and turning the spotlight onto sporting activities could put too much pressure on some of them. I’ll see what Matron thinks of the idea.” As she said this, she mentally crossed her fingers and prayed that Matron would deign to discuss the issue with her – she had after all been particularly unsettled by the staffing structure review, which had had the effect of removing her from the school’s leadership group. “Joey, perhaps you could ask Jack what he thinks about this too?”

“Of course, Hilda, I’ll sound him out tonight,” replied Joey chirpily, “but I expect he’ll agree with you, old thing, so that rather leaves Humanities, doesn’t it? English, History, Geography, Classics, RE – that sort of thing.”

“Ye-es, I suppose you’re right, Joey,” replied Miss Annersley, doubtfully. “So let’s take that as a working proposal unless we have any further brainwaves.”

(So that's all you Historians happy then ...)

#28: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:26 pm

Hooray for specialising in humanities! & what a great excuse for yet more excursions to lots of lovely places. &, of course, what an excuse for Joey to keep interfering!

I hadn't thought about Matey's take on all this Rolling Eyes

#29: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:05 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I'm sorry that Miss Charlesworth didn't get to have her say.

#30: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:59 pm

Loved the assumption that there are "young ladies' subjects!! And Nancy's bewilderment over this strange "computing" thing!

#31: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:28 am

Yes, humanities sounds good - plenty of opportunity to reason from cause to effect!
Thanks, Cryst.

#32: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 9:38 am

A neat summation of all they actually do do at the school, Cryst. Brilliant!

Poor Matey, though, such a dynamic force in school and now relegated to the sidelines. Crying or Very sad

Thank you.

#33: Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:46 am

I feel sorry for poor left-out Matey! Sad

When discussing languages, they just left out the fact that they are a trilingual school!! Laughing

Do they think all schools are or something?
My school is a specialist technology college which is really annoying because it meant that I had to take a technology subject for GCSE. I'm really bad at tech so I really didn't want to do it. In the end I picked a short course Graphics course which I really hate and it meant that I was unable to take Business as a consequence. Are they going to make all girls take Geography seriously? Shocked

Poor girls!!
Thanks Cryst- this is great! Very Happy

#34: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:40 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I'm glad to see that the CS is still taking a traditional view of what is and is not suitable for girls.

#35: Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 2:53 pm

Perhaps they could specialise in everything? THey seem to have everything covered.

#36: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh, Eire

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:12 pm

Great drabble Cryst, I've just caught up. Hope you can manage to give us some more soon! Very Happy

#37: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:32 pm

Very nifty....and no-one can object to Humanities, surely!

Thanks Cryst

#38: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:47 pm

Poor you, Em. My mother made me take Latin as an extra subject - I had to do it at lunch time two days a week. I hated it, but there were no lasting scars. Hmmm - no noticeable benefits either, mind you.

The staff meeting continues ...

“Nell, perhaps you could run through some of the other issues to do with Specialist School status.”

“Yes, what were you saying at the start about additional funding, Nell?” prompted Miss Wilmot.

“Ah well,” replied Miss Wilson, “if we are able to satisfy the conditions of becoming a specialist school, we will receive £5000, provided we raise an additional £2500 ourselves. This total sum of £7500 can be used for a ‘capital project to enhance the facilities in the subjects related to the school's specialism’. We will also receive an extra £7 per girl every year to help implement our ‘specialist school development plan’.”

“Pah.” An explosive grunt came from the soft depths of the armchair in which Herr Laubach was sitting. “Dummköpfe! What nonsense is this? A capital project? They wish a stupid development plan too? They treat us like the animals in the circus-ring. ‘Here is a hoop - you jump.’ Nein, nein, NEIN. No, no, NO.” At this he heaved himself to his feet, his coffee cup tumbling onto the floor, and stormed out of the room, muttering wildly to himself in his native German.

“Oh dear, I rather thought he would blow up sooner or later, and we haven’t even got to the bit about performance targets yet.” said Miss Annersley leaning across and replacing onto its saucer Mdlle’s pretty china cup which had mercifully been empty, and had survived its sudden flight intact. “Did you manage to work out where this extra money is coming from, Nell? That part of it rather mystified me.”

“As far as I can see, it’s not extra money at all - the trustees are just withholding part of the school fees income until we satisfy the specialist school conditions,” replied Miss Wilson, “and thereafter, the fees will no doubt be raised to cover the extra annual funds required.”

“I can’t really see the parents going for it, can you?” said the Head of Maths. “Having part of the fees they pay now withheld for rather nebulous possible future benefits. Plus a significant fees increase. It doesn’t seem to me to add up.”

“We’ll just have to persuade the parents of the benefits of the scheme, I suppose.” said Miss Wilson. “Though I don’t suppose it will be at all easy. Does anyone have any ideas for raising the £2500 contribution that the school itself has to find?”

“Well, The Sale is next term, so that will be too late to count, I suppose,” said Frau Mieders who taught Domestic Science, “otherwise I’d set the girls to work making jam.”

Joey slapped her thigh in disgust and said “Oh, dash it all, they’re not giving us much time for this, are they. I was thinking of cutting an extra batch of jigsaws for The Sale. Mind you,” she added with uncharacteristic hesitation, “I suppose there is a limit to the number of puzzles that the good citizens of the area actually need, and anyway the proceeds of The Sale always go to help needy causes at the San.”

“St Mildred’s has the pantomime this term, so maybe we could sell refreshments at the interval and charge a bit more than usual for the programmes?” volunteered Mr Denny.

“Good idea, and now we’ve more or less raised the funds we need for the chapel, the girls may like to contribute some of the pocket money each week towards the fund?” speculated Miss Derwent.

“We’re going to need something more powerful than jigsaws, pots of jam, cups of tea and dribbles of pocket money if we are to raise this colossal amount.” said Miss Annersley. “We perhaps need to write to the parents asking for contributions?”

“Yikes, as well as increasing the school fees, you mean?” cried an exasperated Joey.

“Well, some of them may be willing to chip in; after all we do have some girls with very rich parents and guardians.” replied Miss Annersley mildly.

“How about getting the senior girls to write letters to the old girls asking if they would like to contribute?”

“Jolly good idea, Kathie.” replied Miss Wilson, “The St Mildred’s lot are studying etiquette and formal business letter writing this term, so that’ll nicely complement their curricular activities. I’ll ask Mary-Lou to get together a little committee to organise it. In fact with our one and only Mary-Lou on the case they’ll probably raise the funds in no time flat, so I vote we leave the fundraising to them and concentrate our own efforts on the capital project, the school plan, the targets and all the rest of it. How does that sound?”

The assembled staffs once again nodded in agreement, and as some of them, particularly those near the fire, were starting to look noticeably drowsy, Miss Annersley called the meeting to a close, asking those of her colleagues wishing to assist with the writing of the application to let her know so that a smaller group of them could work on it over the coming weeks.

#39: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 3:55 pm

Le Petite Em wrote:

My school is a specialist technology college which is really annoying because it meant that I had to take a technology subject for GCSE. I'm really bad at tech so I really didn't want to do it. In the end I picked a short course Graphics course which I really hate and it meant that I was unable to take Business as a consequence. Are they going to make all girls take Geography seriously? Shocked

Poor girls!!
Thanks Cryst- this is great! Very Happy

I thought technology was one of the nationally-required subjects, along with English, maths, science and a foreign language? Or has that changed - it's a good ten years since I was last interested, when my daughter took them.

Cryst, this is a great drabble - keep it going!

#40: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 4:48 pm

I'm loving this, especially the staff falling asleep because of the boring meeting.

La Petite Em, is it not possible to take Food Technology, though I doubt if that will help you to cook nourishing meals. At the last school I taught in, the Food Technology pupils were told to bring in ready-made pastry, a packet of Lemon meringue pie filling and an egg. And it's so easy to make a LMP from scratch and takes hardly any time.

#41: Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:07 pm

I have to confess that the last lemon meringue pie I made from scratch was at school!

#42: Author: Liane, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:41 am

Whe I was at school (left about 6 years ago) we were supposed to take at least 1 tech subject as an option at GCSE. I was the only person in our year to be aloud to drop them all as I was hopeless!
My school turned in to a sports college about 2 years after I left.

#43: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:42 pm

I think the compulsory DT and foreign language came out the national curriculum a couple of tears ago, Mrs Redboots. Wonder how Frau Mieders would get on with a modern Food Technology syllabus, Jennie. <Giggle> OUCH, was that a bunny biting?

Anyway, here's the next bit.

Little Ailie Russell of Lower IVa was on a very important mission. Miss Annersley had asked her to find the Head Girl, Mary-Lou Trelawney, and invite her to report to the Head’s sitting room. Ailie knocked tentatively on the door of the Prefect’s Room and hearing a crisp “Come in!” she entered the room. She hadn’t had the privilege of seeing it before and she ran her eyes eagerly around the room, taking in the details of the dainty flowered curtains, the arrangement of winter evergreen foliage, cones and berries on the windowsill, the little fireplace with a merry wood fire warming the room, and the assortment of tables and chairs. Several of the prefects were sitting around the room engaged in various activities - some reading, some sewing and a couple playing a board game. Thankfully Mary-Lou was among them, and Ailie delivered her message accurately and then headed off at a trot back to her own form’s common room.

“I wonder what the Abbess wants now,” said Mary-Lou, putting down her book and pausing briefly by the mirror to run her fingers through her silky golden-brown curls.

“Only one way to find out” replied Vi Lucy, the Second Prefect, as she shooed Mary-Lou out of the door.

Arriving at the door of the Head’s sitting room, Mary-Lou paused, knocked, and on hearing the reply opened the door and went inside. To her surprise, she discovered that Miss Annersley was not alone. Rosalie Dene, Joey Maynard and Miss Wilson were all present, seated around the fire drinking Kaffee.

“Thank you for sparing us some of your time, Mary-Lou” said Miss Annersley. “Please sit down. Would you like a cup of Kaffee?”

“Yes please, Miss Annersley, milk and two sugars if you don’t mind”, replied the self-assured Head Girl, taking a seat by the fire.

“Now Mary-Lou, I expect you’re wondering why we’re all here? Well, we have formed ourselves into a small committee to work on the school’s application for Specialist School Status.” She then went on to explain the scheme to the sixth-former who listened attentively, and asked the occasional question, demonstrating, as she had so often done in the past, a keen understanding of adult affairs.

“I see, Miss Annersley,” she eventually said, after the explanations had come to an end. “However I’m very surprised that the school has decided to specialise in Humanities – I would have though that there was an obvious stronger candidate.”

“What would that be?” asked Joey.

“Why Languages of course, you goops!” she replied. From any other girl in the school, this choice of words and note of familiarity would have earned a rebuke for cheekiness, but Mary-Lou had an almost mystical ability to somehow avoid these reactions in her elders.

“No, Mary-Lou, we considered Languages very carefully, but decided that the school has no special claim to expertise in this area. Many of the girls picked up a word or two of Welsh during the time the school was on the Island, and some of you are able to pass the time of day with the locals here in their own rough Patois, but over and above that there is nothing very special in the way that languages are taught here at the school.”

“Hello? Have you lost your wits? The teachers are fluent in English, French and German; we have to conduct all our lessons and everyday conversations exclusively in each of these languages for 2 days a week. A goodly proportion of the girls have first languages other than English, and all girls are fully trilingual when they leave the school,” she said briskly, “Er… well… nearly all.” The afterthought came as a particular example occurred to her. “It looks like a specialist subject to me – don’t you see it?”

The four women exchanged astonished glances. Joey was the first to recover the power of speech and said “but all schools operate the same way as us, surely?”

“No, sorry to disillusion you, I really don’t think they do,” replied Mary-Lou maintaining her unique poise. “Most English schools speak English all day, every day, and only venture into French and German during the periods set aside for their study. The pupils acquire a basic level of knowledge of the languages they study, but by no means all pupils study as many as two foreign languages, and their fluency of speech and level of understanding is nowhere near the standards we attain here. The trouble with the staff here is that you were nearly all pupils at the school yourselves, so you know no education system other than our own dear but rather quirky one.”

“Gracious child, if you’re right then we have a very strong submission almost writing itself before our very eyes,” said Miss Wilson with an excited smile.

“Yes indeed,” said Miss Annersley, “thank you so much for your insight, Mary-Lou. We’ll discuss it with Mdlle, do a little research into how other schools operate and, if you’re right, we’ll go for Languages rather than Humanities.”

“You’re most welcome,” replied Mary-Lou, draining her coffee cup with enjoyment. “Was there anything else?”

“Oh yes, indeed, Mary-Lou,” replied Miss Wilson, “we were wondering if you and the senior girls would take charge of the fund-raising operation to raise the £2500 that the school itself has to find. We thought letters to parents and old girls, charging for refreshments at the pantomime, pocket money, jam, that sort of thing.”

“Of course, that should be easy enough; we’ll get onto it right away. Please let me know if there is anything else we can do.” Mary-Lou put down her cup and stood to leave the room, wishing the four women good evening as she left.

“What an exceptional girl she is,” said Miss Annersley with admiration, “We were right to think that we could leave the fundraising to her. Now, we need a plan as to how we can get the work done to put the application together. I was a little disappointed that more of the staff didn’t come forward with offers of help, but I suppose we can’t blame them - these “initiatives” that the Board of Trustees has come up with latterly are getting a bit much.”

“We’ll need to bring Jeanne in, as Head of Languages,” Miss Wilson replied, “as we’ll need her subject expertise. She’ll perhaps be more enthusiastic about giving up her time once she realises that we will be specialising in Languages. I’ll go and see if I can find her – could one of you ring for some more Kaffee? It looks like being a long night.”

(Sorry, Historians.)

#44: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 2:58 pm

Wonderful, Cryst, what a OOAO you've written there. I wonder how she'll go about fundraising?

#45: Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:37 pm

Thank-you Cryst- I knew Mary-Lou would set them right about their specialist subject! Very Happy

#46: Author: Róisín, Location: Gaillimh, Eire

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 6:44 pm

That's really awful, that they are being made to raise extra money like that. Evil or Very Mad

#47: Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:48 pm

Quote:

Hello? Have you lost your wits?

Only OOAO could say that!

#48: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 8:59 pm

Thanks, Cryst. My old school now specialises in business, but my friend who still goes there doesn't study the subject in the Sixth Form. I didn't know much about the specialising part until I read this drabble, so this is very helpful.

I'm glad they have realised that they should study Languages - it is definitely an important part of the Chalet School.

#49: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:49 pm

That's very very funny! I was torn between wanting to shoot OOAO and applauding her!

#50: Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 12:51 am

It's not cheek. It's just Mary Lou.

And about time someone realized it about the languages, too.

#51: Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:21 pm

But that's the way she acted! Down to a T. Brilliant.

Thanks Cryst.

#52: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:22 pm

Mary- Lou really over the top there, Cryst. Laughing

And Miss Annersley ADMIRING her for it!! Laughing

Of course, the teachers are so dim it didn't occur to THEM! Shocked

Fantastic. Thank you.

#53: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 9:26 pm

Sorry if OTTOOAO upset anyone! Smile

Here we go again ...

Miss Wilson found Mdlle de Lachenais in the staff room, chatting with some of her colleagues while she worked on a delicate baby dress she was embroidering in anticipation of the arrival of the next addition to the extensive Maynard family.

“Could I have your attention for a moment please everyone?”

One of two of the mistresses muttered to each other under their breath. The agreement on teacher working hours wasn’t at all heavily enforced at the Chalet School, with the staff having heavy teaching commitments during the day, yet giving freely of their time for a variety of after-school and weekend pursuits. However the climate was changing, particularly among the younger staff who were starting to feel that the demands on their time were perhaps a little excessive.

“You’ll recall the discussion the other night about Specialist School Status. Well it’s been pointed out to us that Languages would be a more natural choice than Humanities. Apparently our insistence that that everyone speaks French and German on certain days of the week is quite unusual for an English school, and it fosters an exceptional level of attainment in these languages. We plan do a spot of research into this and if it’s right, then we thought we’d go for Languages.”

Some of the staff who taught Humanities subjects looked a little disappointed, and a couple of the staff who taught Languages pricked up their ears with interest, but on the whole the news was received with indifference. As Miss Annersley had discerned, initiative fatigue had indeed set in with the staff. However, Mdlle de Lachenais put down her embroidery and clapped her hands with pleasure, so Miss Wilson had very little difficulty in persuading her to accompany her to join the others.

Arriving back at the Head’s cosy sitting room they discovered that one of the maids had delivered a fresh pot of Kaffee, and someone had added a pile of pine cones to the fire which was now crackling merrily. Joey poured out the coffee, the steaming cups were distributed, and the women settled themselves down to reapply themselves to the task in hand.

Miss Annersley started them off. “The application seems to have to be written in sections, so perhaps we could divide the work between us by each taking responsibility for one or more sections?”

Miss Wilson replied “Well that seems sensible, Hilda. Though of course Rosalie here will probably have enough on her plate to get it all typed up, so that really just leaves the four of us. Let’s have a look. What sections do we have?” She spread the papers out in front of her and the women leaned over to look.

“It would appear that we need to discuss Performance Data, and write something about the General Case, the School Plan and the Community Plan. Then there is the Capital Project. We also need to outline the intended use for the recurrent funding.

“Holy Macaroni” said Joey, earning another disapproving glance from her ex-Headmistresses. “They don’t expect much at all, do they! What do they mean by performance data? Is it how many girls pass exams, get to Oxford, become internationally renowned musicians, play at Wimbledon, marry Doctors, that sort of thing? We already collect that sort of information, don’t we?”

“That’s right Joey. Look, it says ‘evidence of a stable or rising level of attainment overall and in each subject, associated with the specialism’. So the exam results are the main thing, I suppose. We’ll just have to separate the Doctors into English-speaking and non English-speaking ones in order to demonstrate that we are improving the rate associated with the specialism.” Miss Annersley smiled as she spoke, and Joey looked at her suspiciously, trying to decide whether she was being teased. “We do already have buckets of this sort of stuff. Rosalie, dear, I wonder if you could sort out what data we already collect and collate it for this section? Then we can just add in anything else we think of as we go along.”

“Certainly Miss Annersley,” replied the School Secretary, looking rather pointedly at her watch, “I should be able to fit that into my 37 hour week as well as typing up the bid and my normal duties.”

#54: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:29 pm

I love Rosalie's response to yet another demand on her time.

I always wondered why she was in charge of doing the timetable. I've never been in a school where it's done by the secretary.

#55: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:13 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I am very sure the people in charge are longing to see the statistics about how many staff or former pupils marry Doctors!

#56: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:33 pm

"initiative fatigue" - brilliant!

Hmmm, do I detect a whiff of mutiny in the ranks?

#57: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:21 am

Cryst wrote:

Miss Annersley started them off. “The application seems to have to be written in sections, so perhaps we could divide the work between us by each taking responsibility for one or more sections?”

Shades of the first issue of The Chaletian and the pages!

Although I know nothing about English special schools, this is still very funny. I think the teachers - sorry, mistresses - should start working to rule and see who takes up all the weekend duties, play production, etc!

#58: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:50 am

cryst wrote:

We’ll just have to separate the Doctors into English-speaking and non English-speaking ones in order to demonstrate that we are improving the rate associated with the specialism.

I would like to see those statistics!

#59: Author: Le Petite Em, Location: Cheltenham

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 5:50 pm

Mmm I wonder what the people in charge are going to the think of the Chalet's marital attainments? lol Laughing

But they ought to be pleased by the number of girls who are 'slated for Wimbledon' and get to college and/or dance school! Very Happy

Thanks Cryst- very funny!

#60: Author: ali, Location: medway, kent

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 8:14 pm

I was wondering what was wrong with me and now I know - it's initiative fatigue Rolling Eyes

Great story Cryst - very realistic!

#61: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:25 pm

“Let’s have a look at this so-called Capital Project,” said Miss Wilson. “I don’t mind tackling that one, but you’ll have to give me some clues, because I can’t imagine how we can possibly spend as much as £7500 in a way that will ‘enhance the school’s facilities for the teaching of your specialist subjects’.”

“It will be the case that we will need the extra teachers, so that other languages, they can add themselves to the curriculum,” declared Mdlle. “This money, can it be used to pay their salaries?”

“No, I think not,” Miss Annersley replied, “but we could use the extra annual funding for that, so that can go into the ‘recurrent funding’ section. Perhaps you could work on that part, and the School Plan, Jeanne? What extra languages should we go for, do you think?”

“Italian of course,” cut in Joey, “that would be a natural choice given where we are located. And how about Spanish? The girls would certainly enjoy some school trips to the Med.”

Mddle looked at Joey indulgently and replied “Yes, my Joey, those are good choices to start us off. I wonder if there are any old girls who would wish to join us to teach those subjects?”

“We’re probably OK for Italian – there’s bound to be an Italian-speaking old girl somewhere who will be up for that”, replied Miss Annersley, “but Spanish might be more difficult as I don’t recall us having had many girls from Spain at the school. Anyway, in light of Mary-Lou’s accusation that we are becoming somewhat ... er ... inbred, perhaps we should recruit new blood for the Spanish mistress.”

“Or master?” said Joey with a sparkle in her eye. “An enthusiastic young Spaniard on the staff could really capture the imagination of our students.”

“Quite possibly Joey,” replied Miss Annersley, with a slightly raised eyebrow. Which section do you fancy tackling, dear? How about the Community Plan? This is about ‘about building excellence and expertise in your specialist subjects for your locality/region’. Any ideas?”

“Oh yes, there’s tons of stuff we can do with the community,” she replied eagerly. With the tourist trade starting to take off in this area, we could offer English classes to the local hoteliers, for example, and help them to translate their brochures into English, their menus into French, and so on. Then there’s the San – numerous foreigners are treated there, so there’s always a need for interpreters and translation services. Yes, I can see it all starting to come together. I’ll have something for you in no time at all.”

“Fine. Well done everyone,” responded Miss Annersley, “I’ll draft up the so-called ‘General Case’ and we’ll be done.”

Miss Wilson was inclined to dispute this. “I still don’t have much for my Capital Project,” she said, rather disgruntled.

“How about some new books?” replied Joey, “We’ll need a whole sets for the new subjects. Oh, and I know, we could set up a language laboratory.”

“A what?” cried Miss Wilson, astounded.

“A room of cubicles with tape recorders, headphones, tapes of people speaking, and so on. All the rage apparently,” replied Joey.

“Really my dear, I don’t know where you get these ideas from,” replied Miss Annersley. “Actually, we’d been thinking of buying another of the local chalets and building a covered wooden walkway to connect it to the school. We could set it up as the Languages Block, and have all the teaching there in the one place? How’s that, Nell, enough ideas for you to be getting on with?”

“Oh yes, thank you everyone,” she replied. “Now, poor Rosalie’s been taking notes of all this discussion and must be thoroughly exhausted. In fact, you are looking a little flushed dear. Are you feeling quite well? I think we should call it a day and all get on with our separate parts over the next week or so.”

Joey replied “Oh Heavens, is that the time, I must dash. The tinies do so like me to pop in at bedtime to tuck them in and they’ll probably be asleep by now. Good night everyone.” With that she hurried to the cloakroom to put on her boots and layers of heavy outdoor clothing, for the nights could be very cold on the high plateau of the Görnetz Platz in January.

Everyone else stood up, Miss Dene swaying slightly and having to clutch the mantelpiece to steady herself. Miss Wilson tidied the coffee cups onto the tray and rang for the maid to collect them, and they all set off to salvage what time remained of the evening to spend on their various leisure activities.

#62: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:51 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I like the ideas they are thinking about.

#63: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:40 am

Cryst wrote:

Everyone else stood up, Miss Dene swaying slightly and having to clutch the mantelpiece to steady herself.

What was in her coffee cup? Matey's gin perhaps? Twisted Evil

#64: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:27 am

Loved Hilda's put downs of Joey's ideas! Laughing

And as for poor Nell and her blank pages.... which they fill willy-nilly just to have something down. Laughing

Thanks, Cryst.

#65: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:26 pm

Cryst wrote:

“Or master?” said Joey with a sparkle in her eye. “An enthusiastic young Spaniard on the staff could really capture the imagination of our students.”

Not just the students, I bet! Laughing

Thanks Cryst

Liz

#66: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2006 11:52 pm

Here is the last bit. I'm afraid Rosalie isn't on the gin, Miss Di!

THE END OF TERM

The two co-Heads of the Chalet School stood outside the front door watching the girls loading themselves into the convoy of motor coaches parked outside the gates.

“Gracious, there goes Janice Chester dashing back towards the school at 100 kilometres an hour.” Miss Annersley stepped out to intercept her. “Do be careful Janice, the ground is muddy after the heavy rainfall and you could quite easily slip. Wherever are you off to?”

“Forgot… some … thing,” she panted as she rushed past. “Sorry. Back … in … a …tick.” Breaking all the rules she ran into the school through the front door and up the main stairs. She emerged a minute later clutching her reading book which she’d left in her form’s common room. Tearing back down the drive, with her outdoor coat flapping wildly, she shouted “sorry” again, and leapt back onto the coach.

Miss Annersley shook her head in resignation. “Ah well. It’s the end of term, and I won’t spoil her day by fining her. It must be a good book. Joey’s latest, perhaps. I know they’ve drawn up a very strict timetable for loaning out the copy that she kindly donated to the Library. Janice must have it for the holidays.”

The two woman stood in companionable silence for several minutes, watching the operation, waving to the occasional girl, and saying goodbye to the staff who were also making their way to the coaches.

“Well, it’s certainly been an eventful term, Hilda,” Miss Wilson eventually said as the mayhem gradually died down.

Her friend and colleague replied “Yes indeed it has, Nell, but we seem to have come through it almost unscathed. Of course Naomi will be up at the San for a good few weeks, and we’ll all miss Herr Laubach dreadfully, but there have been no other major casualties. What’s more we got that dreadful application form handed in just before the closing date. When will we hear whether or not we have been successful, do you remember?”

“I seem to remember them saying it would take about 3 months.” replied Miss Annersley. “It was touch and go, though wasn’t it? When Rosalie came down with the scarlet fever I thought we’d never make it, but it was so good of Hilary and Naomi to help out with the typing. In fact, I’m thinking perhaps that we should add typing and shorthand to the curriculum. It will fit quite well with the Languages, and give the girls a skill to fall back on if they ever need to earn their own living.”

“That’s an idea, replied Miss Wilson, turning it over in her mind, “we could perhaps offer the subjects at St Mildred’s if not at the main school. We may be able to squeeze the equipment purchase in as part of the capital project. We’ll have to give that some more thought. By the way, didn’t Mary-Lou and Co. do well with the sponsorship?”

“Oh yes, she is a very shrewd young lady. She obtained pledges for £1000 each from Evvy and Corney’s father in very short order. Then the little rascals at St Mildred’s actually had the cheek to run an auction among the old girls to see who would come up with the most money for the chance to return to play a part in the pantomime. Four of them paid £120 each in the end - can you imagine it? The girls had the good sense to set aside the remainder to be collected by means of programme and refreshment sales at the panto, plus I believe that the girls themselves contributed about £8 by saving pennies from their pocket money each week, which is a tremendous effort when you consider how little money we allow them during term time. So everyone was able to feel that they have had a hand in it, without us asking the parents for pledges. That should go a long way to help everyone feel comfortable with the idea.”

“We’ve done well with the recruitment of the new staff, too, said Miss Wilson. One of the Italian-speaking old girls is all set to return to the school, and the interviews for Spanish teacher went exceptionally well, I thought.”

“Yes,” replied Miss Annersley, “Jose Manuel is a very personable young man with such enthusiasm for his native Spain and he seems to be so looking forward to teaching the language here. Once we get the go-ahead from the Board of Trustees he’s ready to come with just a term’s notice to his current school, so with any luck he’ll be here for the start of next year.

“Yes, it all seems to have turned out very well. Aha … they seem to be almost ready for the off.” declared Miss Wilson, as the last of the hockey sticks and bags were crammed into the luggage compartment.

They waved furiously as the coaches pulled out and made their way to the main road. When the last coach was out of sight, they turned and walked slowly back into the School, arm in arm.

“We’d better get the prospectus amended, Hilda, so that it will be ready to be reprinted once we hear about the application,” mused Miss Wilson. “ ‘The Chalet School, Special School’ – it will look very well in print.

“Oh no, dear” replied her co-Head with a wry smile, “special we may be, but a Special School is something else altogether. No, we’ll head our new Prospectus ‘The Chalet School, Specialist Language College.’ It will look very well indeed.”

#67: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:13 am

Oh joy - I loved Nell's final comment!

Spanish master? Shocked

This was fascinating, Cryst - thank you.

#68: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:49 am

*wonders what book it was Janice was desperate to take with her*

Thanks Cryst

Liz

#69: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:11 am

Cath V-P wrote:

Spanish master? Shocked

Mmmm - he's nice, but naughty - and may put in an appearance in a future drabble.

But next I think I'll wander over to St Hild's to do something horrid to Joey. I am still reading Tirol, and she really is even more ghastly than usual in it. Tirol is taking so long because I've discovered the Real Chalet School, and am glued to my screen - so the only time I get to read real books is in the bath.

#70: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:06 am

Cryst wrote:

Cath V-P wrote:

Spanish master?

Mmmm - he's nice, but naughty - and may put in an appearance in a future drabble.

Yes, I was going to enquire about that! It would be so nice to hear more about him!

Thanks, Cryst, this has been fascinating!

#71: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 7:51 am

Thanks Cryst, this has been great ... but please may (would you believe that I typed "can" and then changed it to "may" - too much CS?!) we have a sequel because I really want to "meet" the Spanish master?

#72: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:31 am

I'd like to see more of the Spanish master too, please Wink

Liz

#73: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:02 am

Thanks, Cryst. I'm looking forward to the adventures of the new Spanish master. I hope they'll be naughty ones.

#74: Author: MaryR, Location: Sale Cheshire

Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:06 am

Wonderful, Cryst, thank you very much.

You made me chuckle out loud in places. Laughing

#75: Author: Miss Di, Location: Newcastle, NSW

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 2:32 am

Cryst wrote:

“Oh no, dear” replied her co-Head with a wry smile, “special we may be, but a Special School is something else altogether. ”

Very clever. Sorry to hear about Rosalie's scarlet fever (just when I was seeing her as a dipsomniac too) hope she's better soon. And I look forward to meeting the new Spanish Master!

#76: Author: Liane, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 7:45 am

Thank you Cryst, that was really good. I'm looking forward to a sequal now though!

#77: specialist school Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 12:57 am

I've only just found this, Cryst, and, as a reluctantly retired teacher, found it fascinating. It also made me not quite so reluctant to be retired!
The CS is lucky to have rich parents to call on - we had to put in an awful lot of work to get sponsorship from local firms for our specialist status. All of which (whisper) is rubbish, anyway. Come the revolution ... Twisted Evil

I do hope there'll be a sequel. Leaving aside the male Spanish teacher and my suspicions about Janice's book Wink

, I'm really interested in how the CS would adapt to modern changes, all of which, however bizarre, the poor staff have to make work, 'cos it's the only bite that generation of kids gets at the education cherry.

Many thanks, Cryst, I really enjoyed it.

#78: Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 1:47 pm

Just read all of this Cryst and I loved, I take it it was meant to be set in the term covered by Trials for the Chalet School. I'm afraid I don't kno much about the specialist schools status thingy I don't *think* we have it here in Scotland. Please someone correct/explain if there is such a thing in Scotland. Funny that no-one thought of languages until OOAO mentioned, liked the way you depicted her, excellent! Thank you I have enjoyed reading this. How about sequel? I would like to know what book Janice was so anxious to get, some more about the spanish master and which old girl they brought back as Italian Mistress. Thank you so much.

Ruth

#79: Author: Cryst,

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:22 pm

Thank you Tara, everyone.

Yes, a bunny is nibbling with the sequel, though he'll have to wait in the bunny queue. I expect it's only a matter of time before there's another "initiative" to wade through. Applying them to the Chalet School is promising to become a very useful displacement activity. Very Happy

Yes, RuthY, it was supposed to be running alongside Trials and providing alternative explanations for some of the things that happened. I'm sorry if you don't have Specialist Schools in Scotland - you are missing out. Wink

Janice's book had no real significance - I was just trying to set the scene. Unless you know different?

I didn't know which Italian old girl to approach because I haven't read the whole chalet school series and would be sure to pick the wrong one, e.g. one who had disqualified herself from having a career by getting married. But I'm happy to take suggestions.

#80: Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent, England

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:36 pm

Thanks, Cryst. I liked the scene with Janice and I'm glad they were able to raise the money.

#81: Author: RuthY, Location: Anyone's guess

Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:20 pm

When I come to think of it the only old girl who was Italian that I remember particularly is Bianca Di Fersomething or other. She was at school at the same time as Joey etc. but I don't really remember ner being mentioned at all after that. I haven't read ther whol series either.

The CBB -> St Clare's House

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