COLIN Northmore is the new principal of Abbotts College in Suideroord. He is making his move from Sacred Heart College in Observatory, where he has been head principal for the past 16 years.
“I love the concept of Abbotts and the idea that they give children second chances. It’s the children who do not fit into the traditional school who can find a home here.”
An incredible journey
Colin began his journey in education as a teacher at Bryanston High. He then became head of English at Glenvista High School. From there he became the deputy principal of Alberton High School and then went on to the Catholic Institute of Education in Booysens. Colin then became the head of college at Sacred Heart College. At Sacred Heart, Colin started a project called Three2Six.
“I call myself Johannesburg’s best paid beggar because we’ve raised about R64-million in the 11 years that the project has been running and we’ve served 62 000 meals.”
Learning from mistakes
“It’s important to me that schools are places where children should be able to make mistakes and not pay for them for the rest of their lives. Schools are where children should be able to learn from their mistakes. I believe that mistakes are actually good, as long as they are learning moments for children. It’s also important to me that children and staff have a voice.”
Colin completed all his post-matric studies in education at the University of the Witwatersrand, which include a BA, BEd honours and master’s in education, specialising in people behavioural management.
“I look at ways in which one could manage children’s behaviour without corporal punishment and punitive justice. I believe in restorative justice.”
A passion for a new beginning
In terms of his new position at Abbotts, Colin says: “I’m not going to hit the road running, I’m going to hit the road learning. Abbotts’ promise to our children is, if you come in at a certain level, we’ll make it better. If we are going to fulfil that promise, we have to fully understand the children we are working with and understand where their areas for passion and improvement lie. Every child is capable of at least one distinction. I want to run a school that is efficient, effective and serves its community well. It’s important for children to make them feel that they make a difference in the world.”
Colin is an avid science fiction fan (though he’s never been abducted by aliens, he jokes). He is a techno junkie of note and believes that technology is a way to differentiate children’s education so that children can learn at their own pace. Although he does not have spare time, he reads science fiction and educational journals and literature.
