Educational Visits - Steffan Thomas

It was an early start with an exciting and promising visit to the famous and history steeped Queens College in Queenstown.

The college, in its 151st year, is an extraordinary place that links old traditional schooling values with up-to-date technology, high quality teaching and an excellent and ever expanding sports program. The day was spent touring the grounds, drinking in the history, discussing variations in discipline, teaching methods, funding & cultural values and the possibilities of exchanges visits for both students and lecturers. My host, and excellent guide Hayden, made me feel most welcome as we started the day with a tour of the Queens College Museum. An archive of achievements, success and history which truly made me feel I was walking in the steps of legendary scholars and sportsmen’s. The walls were adorned with memorabilia from sporting occasions, both past and present which gave me an understanding of how proud Queens College was of it previous victories and the legacy present students were leaving. The feeling of importance hit home when Hayden presented me with a Queens College tie, something that not many people can claim to own and a gift which rendered me speechless (and that’s saying something with me).

The morning continued with tours of the grounds and facilities that Queens College had to offer, which varied from classrooms, to presentation halls, to the kitchen, to the dormitories and then finally the extensive sporting facilities. Many of which would rival some of the UK’s professional sporting facilities. During the morning, Hayden and I discussed the schooling and educational systems in South Africa whilst sharing the highs and lows of student achievements. Currently the students in South Africa are studying for their Matrics (end of year exams - GCSE equivalent) so there was plenty to discuss in regards to the strategies the school adopted to maximize achievement. Many that are similar to those in the UK system and a few that were new to me.

As the discussion continued it was interesting to share the different disciplinary actions used, not just between the UK and SA, but also in different areas of SA, as these seemed to vary according to fees the students/parents may be paying for education and the strength of heir archery in supporting teachers and facilitators at ground level.

As the morning drew to a close, Hayden suggested I join him for lunch in the main hall, so I quickly used the excuse of lunch at Queens College, to make a quick change into a suit, so I could show off my new tie. The lunch of steak and rice (no wonder South African Sports legends are so well built if they are getting steak for lunch!!) was served in a hall with the company of 100 hundred students, grade 8, 9 and 10. This is an experience I won’t forget in a hurry!

The afternoon led me to the cricket ground where I had the privilege of getting involved in a coaching session with the inspirational Ralph Cullahan and David Osborn. Two people that will truly stick in my memory, as their passion for the development of youth cricket was something that was clear and obvious for all to see. Ralph’s use of video recording of bowling and batting techniques to analysis the student’s movements, helped to guide them to new goals. A new technique to Queens College Cricket but a valuable one as the students contributed, with Ralph, to their strengths and areas for development that could be immediately worked on in the nets. Ralph and David may be seeing us for a tour one day as exchange visits were again discussed at length.

Queens College and the people that took time out of their busy schedule to accommodate me, provided a view of a college that is steeped in history, exceptionally well managed and administrated, yet also has a human side to it with the passion and commitment shown to the sporting stars of tomorrow and the legends of yesterday. www.queenscollege.co.za

The Queens College experience built on my first educational visit to University of Fort Hare, Alice, where a long drive turned into an information swapping session with Alan Shaw, my host for the day. Sharing cultural and funding differences between the educational systems in the UK and SA was first on the agenda whilst comparing sporting stars and their impact on the youth of today followed. This information was built on at Fort Hare where Mia Hill, Director in Human Movements, guided me through the Higher Education systems and the expectations of students studying at the University. We shared thoughts on competitive sports and the importance of participation and not just elitism, and also the possibilities of an exchange program. Alan then gave me tour of the campus, showing me the sports facilities and sharing his development plans for the future. During an afternoon meeting with my host Margaret and her business partner, discussions turned to Worked Based Learning and the materials that could guide employers through qualifications, thus making it a productive and beneficial proposal for all. A day well spent in the educational environment with thoughts of possible future qualification delivery and comparison of current work ethics and practices.