This week, we had A Conversation With... Mr Mallins, Housemaster of Burr, Teacher of Geography and all-round nice guy! Adam joined the College in 2011 after spending a number of years working in Television Production for the BBC. Since joining, he has held a number of roles, from Assistant Housemaster of Orchard to current Housemaster of Burr. Mr Mallins lives on site with his wife Beedee and two children.
What does your average day entail?
I typically get up around 6.00am to walk the dogs then help with getting my two children ready for school, before doing the rounds in Burr and waking up 54 youngsters. I also catch up with our brilliant matron every morning to discuss the day ahead or to find out who hasn’t tidied their room. After that there is no such thing as an average day, but it tends to include the teaching and planning of some Geography lessons, some marking, some admin back in my study and some coaching of which ever sport is on that term. The majority of my time is spent ensuring the pupils are happy, listening to any problems and then solving any that I can. As a boarding housemaster my workday of course carries on well after the buses have taken our day boys home. We have a brilliant programme of evening activities run by Mr Ebun-Cole, however we also try to offer some more homely touches; for example we run international evenings where boys come into my kitchen to cook their national dishes before presenting to the other boys. I’ve been very lucky to have tried dishes from Chile, Montenegro, USA (thanksgiving) and Kazhakstan this year. We also have BT Sport at home so we often find Burr boys sitting on our sofa to watch the football; I’ve seen more Brighton FC games than I thought I ever would this year! The day ends with getting everyone to bed, locking up the House, getting things ready for the next day and then finally off to my own bed.
What are your favourite things about working and living at Shiplake College?
Lots of people talk about the special community spirit here at Shiplake and although it’s almost become a bit of a cliché, there is no other way of saying it. To work and live with so many friendly and supportive colleagues as well as being able to interact with the wonderful array of pupils, is a real privilege. When you add the fact that my children are growing up in these beautiful grounds and are free to scoot down to the river or kick a ball around on the astro, one can appreciate how lucky we are. I also really like that my daily commute is through a door in my house! I used to drive from Henley to Bristol and back every day before Shiplake.
How did you end up at Shiplake?
From as young as I can remember, I was always going to be a teacher; my grandfather was a Headmaster and my father was a teacher for 40 years. However, after completing my Geography and Geology degree at Birmingham University I had a panic and thought I should do something else first. I ended up falling into the TV industry and travelled the world making factual programmes for the BBC, National Geographic, Channel 5 and Discovery. It was a fun and enlightening career, however the pull of teaching was just too powerful and when an old friend, none other than Mr Howorth, moved to the area and got a job here at Shiplake, the foundations were set for my transition back into education. One evening Mr Howorth informed me of a vacancy for a Geography and Media teacher and 2 weeks later in the middle of an edit room at The One Show, I handed in my resignation, informing my shocked boss that I was retraining to become a teacher. Although I miss travelling the world and the long lunches, the change in career is easily the best decision I have ever made.
If you could liken yourself to any fictional character, who would it be and why?
Ron Weasley from Harry Potter because that’s what I get called most often by my ‘friends’. I really don’t know why?
What do you like to do during your summer holidays?
Wear shorts, go on holiday with my family and play as much tennis and touch rugby as my hamstrings can handle.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I love England, so I am not sure I’d choose to live abroad although I wouldn’t mind a few more warm, sunny days. I’d probably live in Cornwall or Pembrokeshire by the coast.
What does the future hold for Mr Mallins?
I really don’t know. I currently enjoy being a Housemaster and I love it here at Shiplake so I find it hard to think of being anywhere else. I recently turned 40 so I suppose it’s time I had a mid-life crisis. Perhaps it’s time to buy a sports car.
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