Pupils are enjoying the precious last few weeks of the school holidays and a fresh new term is fast approaching for Dartmouth Academy and its 32 teachers. By The Dart spoke to members of staff about their roles and routines.
What do you do at the Academy?
It’s my job to keep everything running like clockwork. So I’m in charge of anything maintenance related - changing light bulbs, maintaining/fixing the building, sorting out leaks and keeping the grounds looking neat and tidy. I am based here but also look after the four primary schools in our Trust – Kingswear, Stoke Fleming, East Allington and Blackawton.
Is it a nine to five job?
Yes and no! I am on call a lot of the time but, touch wood, we don’t have that many emergencies. I spend most of my time here and we have a ticket system for jobs in other schools – we attend and deal with the tasks on a priority basis. Obviously if they rang me to say the roof was falling down we would go straight away!
Do the children get used to you popping up in classrooms?
We work around the students as much as we can and only go into working classrooms when it’s necessary. But the students are very positive about our work and sometimes we get them to help us - useful for those considering a career in maintenance. The young people are very pro-active and we often put together teams to help us litter pick around the grounds.
How did you get into this field of work?
I actually went to school here, so haven’t really left! After Year 11, I went to do an IT software course at South Devon College. I came back in the evenings to help out and lock up. I got the job of IT Technician first then Health and Safety Manager, and then Site Supervisor.
What do you like about the job?
It’s very rewarding. I enjoy seeing people using equipment I have just fixed or watching students get excited when I mount their art sculptures on the wall. No two days are the same and there is never any clockwatching.
What is it like working in the new building?
It makes a big difference. I used to work with the old school building and 1970s equipment, now it’s state of the art operating systems and big, bright, open spaces. I was involved with the construction which was quite exciting and then worked on the snagging list at the end. It’s a lot easier having the schools connected - I can just take equipment straight through to the primary area rather than going outside.
Does your job change much with the seasons?
We find a lot more weeds to pull up in the summer! There’s a vast area of ground to maintain up here and we like to keep it looking tidy. There is generally more to do in the summer months – getting ready for sports day and helping the art department as they display GCSE work. Part of my role is looking after the school mini buses, so I’m quite busy in June and July taking bookings and hiring drivers for sports tournaments.
What personal qualities do you need to carry out your role?
I think you need to be laid back, calm and be a ‘go to guy’!
What do you always have on you as you walk around school?
A walkie talkie, pen and pen torch, I can’t operate without those three things!
What do you do when not in work?
Answer emails! I am rarely off my phone, it’s hard to put work to bed but I do like to hang around with my friends when I can. I also enjoy going to car shows and steam rallies and getting out in the sun.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Spend most of it on cars and a big house in the country!
First published in By The Dart magazine August 2017
