Welcoming the Vice-Provost of Eton to Christ Church

We were very fortunate to have preaching to us this morning the Vice-Provost of Eton, Mr Peter McKie.
The Provost is the Chair of Governors at Eton and the Vice-Provost, the Vice Chair. Both of them have a hand in the appointment of the Headmaster. Unlike in most schools where the Governors of a school live elsewhere, at Eton the Provost and Vice- Provost live at the School in elegant residences where they are able to entertain the pupils and staff. The Vice-Provost was telling me that one of his duties is to undertake what is called an “asset check” of the College Library. The College Library at Eton is rather different from that at most schools. In it is contained approximately 50,000 printed books from the 16th to 21st Centuries, and if this is not enough, one of those books is a copy of the earliest printed book, The Gutenberg Bible (of which there are only 21 complete copies in the world). The library contains more than 200 mediaeval manuscripts, and approximately 100 books of which there is no other known copy. Probably the greatest treasure of the library is the Eton Choir book, a remarkable collection of 15th Century musical works which is unparalleled, because almost all other 15th Century musical manuscripts in England have been lost. Over the past decade, our Cathedral Choir has recorded many of the works from this book on CD, recordings which are considered some of the finest interpretations of this remarkable music available. The Vice-Provost’s role during the “asset check” is to assure himself that all the most precious books are still there and, every year, he randomly selects some other works from the catalogue which then must be produced. To my mind this job sounds, despite its uninspiring name – who came up with the title ‘asset check’? - to be one of the most pleasurable of labours.
Mr McKie chose as his subject the moment in the Bible when the twelve year old Jesus escapes from his parents and makes his way to the Temple in Jerusalem to spend time debating theology with the rabbis. As Mr McKie said “Just imagine if any of you left school and were found in the Cathedral discussing intellectual matters with some of the fellows of Christ Church!” The funny thing is, I could imagine some of our boys doing just that! Mr McKie ended by saying that young men and women were capable of great things but that their successes would not happen without the help and support of their teachers, parents and friends – the community in which they learnt was always of the greatest importance. I couldn’t agree more!
As it happens, this week I have been giving a large number of pupils interview practice in preparation for their senior school applications. I see all of the boys who are asked to interview at senior schools. I tell them about the nature of the individual schools they are going for and then we run a mock interview. As Mr McKie suggested, it is so often the relationship between teachers and pupils that make all the difference in terms of their education and I believe, therefore, that interviews are an important component of selection. and I applaud senior schools (unlike most Universities) for continuing the practice.
Even though I have been at CCCS for more than a decade, I am still very struck by the enthusiasm of our pupils. I visited Pre-Prep this morning. Pupils were being asked to show some of their work. Mr Robards said to one of the pupils: “Would you like to read a little bit of your work?” “No!” responded the pupil, “I would like to read ALL of it!” which he promptly and fluently did, enjoying every single word!
The same attitude was in evidence when, a few mornings ago, a boy arrived at school beaming. “How are you?” I asked. “Ecstatic!” he responded. “Why?” I asked. “Because I have a Pembroke Choir rehearsal in a minute. It fills me with electricity!” No wonder I feel so energised whenever I listen to our choirs!