Bursar’s Review Autumn 2019.

News Autumn 2019 www.theisba.org.uk 6 SKYDIVING EASIER THAN BAKING CAKES A life transformed Julius Muyombya’s life changed forever when he met a Welsh teenager on a school summer project in Africa. The 11-year-old was picking up litter for 70p a day and living in a one-room shack without power or water in Kampala, Uganda with six siblings and his grandmother when he met Christina Ramsay. Sixth former, Christina, was in the country with other pupils from St David’s College in Llandudno, on an outreach project. Struck by the young boy’s 'spark' she was determined to find a way to bring Julius to Wales to get an education at her school. When they heard his story, the school and its chaplain, Rev Tim Hall, and parents wanted to help. Julius arrived at St David’s College on 100 percent sponsorship in 2010 aged 13. All his other financial needs were met by a group of parents who set up fundraiser; The Friends of Julius. Ten years later Julius has graduated from Bangor University with a first class business and law degree. Returning to Kampala recently, he is working on a graduate programme with an international accountancy firm − he hopes to become a business consultant creating wealth and closing the poverty gap in Uganda. Remembering the moment he was asked if he wanted to come to Wales he says he didn’t hesitate to say yes. “It felt amazing to have the opportunity to go to school in Wales. I was tough mentally and physically. I wanted to come. “I landed in Heathrow in the rain and then went to Anglesey to stay with a family from the school for the night. My first impression was that Wales was the most beautiful place I had seen. It was green and there were mountains. “But I was 13 and it was all very strange. The food, culture and climate were all so different but people were very friendly and helped me feel at home”. Back in Uganda Julius, who is now 22, said: “Wales is part of my heart now. It is where I grew up. For the past eight years I have had the most loving support from people there”. St David’s College chaplain said: “It has been extraordinary being involved with something like this that came out of the blue. Lives have been transformed”. Gordon’s School’s head, bursar and senior pipe major did a tandem skydive earlier in the year to raise money to build a new sports hub. Head, Andrew Moss, bursar Susan Meikle, senior pipe major, Iona Scotson and two brave parents raised more than £6,000 in the skydive with the Royal Engineers Parachuting Team. The funds will help to pay for the fixtures and fittings for the new sports hub, which will be used by pupils and the local community. Mr Moss explained: “I am always telling pupils to be the best that they can be and to challenge themselves, I had done something similar before so I believed my chances of surviving were high”. Susan Meikle admitted: “The first time I participated in a tandem skydive I looked earthwards just before jumping out of the plane and vowed, never again, however, such is my determination to help raise sufficient funds to properly equip the new sports hub, I agreed to jump again”. One of the parents confessed to doing the skydive as an alternative to baking cakes. Admitting to a fear of flying, she said: “While I was scared, I was also excited to push myself out of my comfort zone, I was never good at baking cakes anyway”! Bursar,Susan Meikle,during her tandem skydive ‘SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE’ ISBA HR SUPPLEMENT With this Autumn issue of the Bursar’s Review, we’re delighted to bring you a supplement dedicated to the extensive subject of HR. The issue of teachers’ pensions and whether to exit the scheme will have been at the forefront of many of your minds this year. On page 4 of the supplement, Kristine Scott from Harrison Clark Rickerbys discusses the implications of leaving TPS and how to approach the consultation process. We have also seen several employment law cases with surprising outcomes over the past few months, bringing with them notable consequences for the sector which Simon Bevan of VWV explores in the supplement on page 6. The second half of the supplement focuses on staff engagement, mental health and wellbeing with practical advice on how to thrive in these challenging times. Sharing the knowledge H U M A N R E S O U R C E S WWW.THEISBA.ORG.UK SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WWW.THEISBA.ORG.UK