19 May 2006
Transforming a failing school into an institution that includes and motivates all its pupils is a major challenge, but one that former footballer David Seddon relished when he took on Baxter College. And it's not all over yet, as Vivienne Russell reports
David Seddon used to dread Tuesdays. It's wheelie bin collection day in Kidderminster and bins would disappear from gardens all over the West Midlands town. 'And it would be our kids that were nicking them,' the principal of Baxter College says ruefully.
That was a few years ago and thanks to Seddon's efforts, these days the wheelie bins are staying put. Complaints have dwindled dramatically and although misdemeanours still occur they are quickly dealt with because of his energetic, hands-on style of justice. 'I'll take them down to the house and have them meet the person and say sorry. Our kids do. They know what's expected of them and they follow stuff through.'
The changes wrought by Seddon, winner of this year's Inspiring Success award, are nothing short of remarkable. The former footballer took over as principal of the failing secondary school in 2003.
Vice principal Jo Coleman says: 'The transformation has been truly amazing. Today, it is a vibrant, busy school bursting with energy, enthusiasm and optimism… The number of pupils gaining five or more A*–C grades rocketed this year by 175%.'
The school, recently rebranded Baxter College, had been known as Harry Cheshire High School and few Kidderminster parents would contemplate sending their children there. Stuck in special measures, it was the twenty-first worst-performing school in England.
Poor behaviour and low teaching standards were massive problems and leadership was weak. 'A lot of people buried their head in the sand and didn't want to accept the responsibility,' Seddon says. 'And even if they did, perhaps some of them didn't know what to do about it or didn't want to do anything about it.'
Under his watch, the school has been transformed. Students are happy and engaged, the number staying on into the sixth form has almost quadrupled and exam results are getting steadily better.
But Seddon isn't interested in turning Baxter into an exam factory, believing personal qualities are most important, 'far more than qualifications'.
'You can have people who have got qualifications coming out of their ears but they can't communicate with people or you distrust them or they're no fun to be with,' he says. 'I want every kid to achieve their potential, whatever that potential is. I want every kid to look me in the eye and say, “I did my best” regardless of whether they've got five A-Cs or nothing at all.'
The teaching body has been strengthened and stabilised. A staggered school day means pupils aren't all rushing to the cafeteria at once and a varied, more vocational curriculum meets the needs of all students, not just the academically inclined. This personalised learning has changed pupils' attitudes, Seddon says. 'They're different kids. Kids that would often have been the most excluded have got some self-esteem back and that in turn carries over to their attitude and behaviour.'
Chelsea, a pupil in Year Ten, recalls the reputation the school used to have. 'It has changed a lot since Mr Seddon took over,' she says. 'My sister went to Harry Cheshire and there was a lot of bullying. Now if there's any bullying they put a stop to it.'
Turn into the drive of Baxter College and you'd think you were heading towards an exclusive private school rather than a comprehensive recently condemned as failing. The school is set back in extensive grounds. The beautifully landscaped gardens even house ducks and chickens for the students to care for.
In the welcoming and spacious reception area a display announces that bullying won't be tolerated. One cabinet holds an impressive collection of trophies, while another contains newspaper cuttings on pupil, staff and school achievements. Celebrating success is something Seddon takes very seriously. The cuttings, he says, assure people that Baxter has changed.
Working to change local perceptions of the school has been a key strategy. The former Rochdale football player says: 'I'm an England supporter and I go and watch England all over the world. I don't want to be typecast as a hooligan. And it's the same here. Most
of our kids do most things right most of the time – all of the time – but there are a few that go off like a bottle of pop.'
Building up good relations through local networks is crucial and one of Seddon's first moves after becoming principal was to invite the editor of the local paper over. The school had just raised £4,000 for charity but the paper's headline described Baxter as 'crisis ridden'.
'I went ballistic at the editor,' he says. 'Give us a chance! You're just typecasting no matter what we do. If it's fair, if it is a crisis, then put it… but just be honest.' The paper has since kept its promise to give the school fairer representation.
In Seddon's cosy office, photographs of his grown-up children sit on the window sill. He keeps them there to help him think more clearly about his often tough choices. 'I can't abdicate responsibility for the kids I'm representing if I want it for my own kids,' he says. 'And I sometimes think some people, when they get into a position of authority, abuse that privilege.'
Attired in trainers, tracksuit bottoms and Baxter's purple sports shirt (worn by all PE staff), Seddon apologises for not being more smartly dressed but he's been examining football. Although perhaps not the classic image of an award-winning head teacher, the casual clothes suit his open style and lack of pretension.
Seddon makes himself accessible around the school, popping in and out of lessons. 'I like to think I know what's going on. I'm not a queen bee that sits in here.' His house is seconds away from the school building and he's a well known figure around Kidderminster, hailed by parents and teachers alike whenever he walks through the town.
Seddon's route to a headship was unconventional. Born to working-class parents in Lancashire (the accent is still strong), the young Seddon was signed up by local Rochdale FC where he played for 10 years, although he confesses to being 'not very good'.
Sport was his lifeline at school. However, his mother made him get a fallback in case of injury, so he enrolled at a nearby teacher training college. While his teammates were in the pub or on the golf course in between playing football, he was teaching PE, and when his footballing career came to an end, he taught fulltime at a school in Wolverhampton.
When that school became independent, Seddon took a job as recreation officer for the local authority, which led to a position as a community director. He returned to education as a deputy head in the late 1980s, moving on to headship five years later.
He agrees this unusual career path has conferred advantages, giving him confidence in the areas that heads are now expected to be proficient in, such as financial management and entrepreneurship. But he insists it's more important that he views his job as a privilege. He is passionate about ensuring the children in his care get a fair deal and identifies with them strongly. 'It's about [being] the right peg in the right hole. I would be useless in a school that's got a 70% or 80% exam pass rate. I'm better rolling my sleeves up with kids most people see as challenging. I don't. I see them as needing some help and needing champions, not someone to say, “Get out of school” because that's the easiest thing to do.'
There's still work to be done. Later this year student numbers will swell to more than 1,000 as Baxter absorbs the nearby middle school and Seddon is concerned that still not enough pupils are reaching their potential.
But he isn't going anywhere. He and Baxter are firmly wedded together. 'I'd die for the place,' he says. 'Nobody dare in my hearing say it's a bad school now because I'd go for their throats. It's a good school but it's not as good as it will be.'
And who can doubt him?
PFmay2006
