Grammar girl in charge of boys

JULIA Bell has been head-teacher of the Dover Grammar school for Girls for five years this December. In September, she also took charge of the boys' school, making her directly responsible for around 1,400 pupils. With her appointment to the new post so fresh her picture's not even been posted on the boys' school website, (15th Oct) LAURA SMITH went to interview her, finding a woman who relishes a challenge and who genuinely loves the many aspects of the job she's been given.

THE 'A smile is my style' sign on the office wall must be scant consolation to pupils summoned there.

On first impression, Julia Bell appears direct, organised and a little formidable, a perfect combination some might say, for a head-teacher. In the corner a large leather chair sits next to her slightly cluttered desk, the only outward sign of the busy lifestyle she leads.

Seated in the relatively new surroundings of the Boys' Grammar school and drinking her coffee she seems at home, but it may be a stretch too far to describe her as being relaxed. Indeed, one gets the feeling that this driven and determined woman does not relax easily.

Julia grew up in Manchester as the eldest of six children, attending school in Bury before going to the University of East Anglia to study English and American studies. It was in the summer holiday before her third year that she found her vocation, even though it was one she'd always been opposed to.

"I didn't want to be a teacher. My father was a deputy head of a tough school in Manchester. I suppose it was a natural thing that I didn't want to do what my parents did. I wanted to do something different, but in the end I didn't."

The turning point came when she accepted a temporary post at her father's school. "I was at home having done the usual rounds of bar jobs and factory work to earn some money. He had an English teacher who hadn't come back after the holidays, and he said 'Look, all I want you to do is sit with the class, and I'll pay you more than you earn in the factory. I'm sure you'll be fine.' So, I went into the school and me being me, I couldn't just sit there as they were attempting to do their work. I had to get involved and found I got a real buzz out of it and thoroughly enjoyed it."

After completing her degree, she moved on to a PGCE at Goldsmiths College in London, and has been involved in education, in some form or another, ever since.

She first became a head-teacher when she was 39, taking charge of a mixed high school in Maidstone, before moving on to become a district schools officer with Kent County Council. It was here that she first shouldered the type of phenomenal responsibility that comes with being in charge of 1,400 pupils on two different school sites, acting as the liaison between KCC and 52 schools in the Sevenoaks area. The challenge, however, was not to her taste.

"I didn't like it. I missed being in a school. I think I had a naive notion that I'd have the opportunity to influence more schools if I worked as a district schools officer, but actually it took me away from the children which is what I got the buzz from.

'Buzz' is a word that crops up several times during the conversation, always in relation to her classroom activities and the achievements of her pupils. Despite the satisfaction she undoubtedly gains from her adminsitrative role as headmistress, it is teaching that brings out her passion. Yet, in her position of responsibility, it is a passion which has to be tempered by business sense. "I love the classroom. Teaching is a pleasure and yet it's also an indulgence because in terms of salary I'm the most expensive teacher in the school.

"Is it right that I should spend 50 minutes teaching when I'm being paid to manage?"

Few would deny her this small pleasure when it is considered how hard she works for her schools and her pupils. On weekdays, she works from seven o'clock in the morning and keeps going until late in the evening, and the job often spills over into her weekends.

She is married but has no children, of her own, and is quick to dismiss any claims that she is a modern career superwoman.

"I think that career superwomen are those that have families as well. The only person I've got to consider is another adult which makes life a lot easier."

In her scarce spare time, she chooses activities that reflect her personality. Golf, which she took up two years ago, is not played as a social event nor as a way to relieve tension. Rather, it is played because she wants to win, and provides an outlet for her drive and competitive nature.

"It is the most frustrating game on earth. It's also very addictive because it's the challenge of you versus the the course. If I play my best, then I beat the course. I beat myself, which is the whole point."

It also offers a solitude which she finds appealing. "There are no computers, no mobiles and no one to ask you difficult questions."

The difficult questions, however, are set to continue, at least for the next two years, at which point a decision will be taken as to the future of the two schools and their serving head-teacher. Until this point, Julia Bell will continue in her reign over the grammar schools of Dover, and will continue to enjoy the work, despite the high demands it makes. Indeed, she can't see herself doing anything else. "Apart from playing on the women's pro circuit in golf or captaining the the England football team," she jokes.

She smiles, and the style suits her. Perhaps it's not so difficult to get her to relax after all.