Latest Staff feature – Mr Field

Current Head of Academic PE and Head of Hockey at the Senior School, Mr Field starts as Head of Langley Sport across the whole school as of September, spending time at both our Prep and Senior School. In the meantime, let’s find out more about Mr Field…

As a pupil yourself, what is your fondest memory of school?
I loved the school trips and the opportunity to travel and see different places. We used to holiday in the UK and so the trips were an opportunity to see the world. I was lucky enough to go on trips to France, Germany and the USA.

During your school years, what was your biggest achievement?
Playing the part of the dentist in The Little Shop of Horrors school production. I was pretty shy as a young kid, but loved the stage. I was made up to get the part and it was months of hard work putting it all together. The 4 nights of performances though were amazing.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I like working with people. I enjoy helping people learn new things and develop skills. I like the responsibility of helping young people navigate their way through life and become good human beings.

How would you describe it here at Langley?
It’s a small community but with a broad range of people and experiences. There are opportunities to build good relationships and learn something new every day.

What is the highlight of your teaching career so far?
Taking a group of girls on a hockey tour to Holland in my first year here. Outside of winning the final tournament on flicks, the girls were amazing all tour. They listened, developed as players and people and were excellent ambassadors for the school. My proudest moment was when 2 different staff from 2 different schools commented on how well-behaved and polite the girls were around the hotel and the hockey pitch. The winning was a nice bonus.

Is there a teacher that stands out for you?
There are 2. I’ll save any blushes by not naming them but both have very similar characteristics. They insist on high standards of behaviour and do it in a way that gets respect from pupils. They are also both incredibly giving with their time to both staff and pupils. They go out of their way to develop strong relationships and that creates a solid foundation for learning. They are just really nice people!

What do you like to do outside of work when you’re not teaching?
When I’m not coaching or spending time with the family, I love to ride my bike. My aim is to compete in the UCI world amateur grand fondo event. I’ve got some work to do but enjoying the training and being competitive in a different way to what I’ve done in the past.

What advice would you yourself give to pupils?
Don’t make excuses, don’t blame other people, take responsibility for your actions. Make the most of opportunities that come your way. I really like the quote ‘Why wait for the storm to pass when you can learn to dance in the rain’. My last bit of advice is, be nice! The world is a tough place and life can deal all sorts of cruel blows that are out of our control. Being nice to others is totally in our control and far more straight forward.