Leighton Park reflections - An interview with John Dunston, head
Morwenna Hull and Leighton Park head John Dunston consider the importance of community and values in a school
When waiting to interview John Dunston, I am not afraid to say I was nervous, but the second I walked into his room, John straight away made me comfortable and gave me a feeling of being welcome. I have known John Dunston for six and a half years as Head at Leighton Park School. So to be able to interview him, as he is soon leaving, was a great honour. John Dunston is the first Jewish head in a Quaker school; he believes that his values have been similar in many ways to Quakerism, but also complemented by it, to give him a greatly enriched spiritual sense. He has now been a Head at Quaker schools for twenty years. He was at Sibford for six and a half years, and then at Leighton Park since 1996. When he was asked how he felt about leaving after this significant period of time he said: ‘I am going to miss Leighton Park, but I do think that it’s the right time for the school to begin its next chapter, and for me as well to have the chance for a change in direction.’
Leighton Park is considered a successful school. When he was asked what some of the key ingredients are, he pondered: ‘The success of a school, I would think, is above all reflected in its pupils, as well as in the true dedication of the staff, but also in the extent to which its values are realised.’
John thought that as long as pupils and staff were always trying to improve, and be willing to ask questions such as ‘Why?’ and ‘Why not?’, that would give a particular strength to the community.
When John was asked how you can measure the success of a school, he responded that although exam results were important, there was much more to success than that narrow measure. ‘There is a strong sense of community in the school, and of genuine affection from the pupils towards each other, and towards and among the teachers. The school makes a difference to our world.’ One of the many examples that John gave was the JB Hodgkin speech competition, where participating pupils are also judged on how well they handle lively heckling from their fellow-students who are trying to push the speakers to higher and higher levels of achievement. It’s hard to believe – but true! – that they are doing this in a spirit of friendship and support.
As John is retiring at the end of December I wish him and his family well, on behalf of the whole school community and all whose lives he has influenced, as he continues to make a contribution to education in what will surely be another very active phase of his own life.
