St Andrew’s College is delighted to announce the appointment of our new Deputy Headmaster, Mr Aidan Smith, who has been involved in education for 25 years both in the Independent and Public schools sectors. He officially takes up his appointment at the College at the beginning of the third term, 2 September 2009 and said. “I look forward to working with the Headmaster, Mr Paul Edey, in pursuing his vision for a school that offers a cutting edge academic programme that will prepare young Andreans for the challenges of life in the 21st Century.” Mr Smith went on to say, “St Andrew’s College is a remarkable school of both boys and staff. It is a place of passion. I love every aspect of my job, from teaching extraordinary boys and girls in the classroom, to the great privilege and awesome responsibility of being involved in the lives of the boys of Graham House, all of whom I am immensely fond. But most of all, I consider myself very fortunate to work with a teaching staff of such skill and commitment. A school flies or falters by the quality of the teacher in the classroom – it is as simple as that. And that excellent teacher brings with herself or himself the rich texture of experiences which the boys enjoy on the playing fields and in the theatres.”
Aidan Smith went to school at Kimberley Boys’ High School and then studied Physics at the University of Cape Town. He was asked to stand in for a teacher who had fallen ill at Plumstead High School and enjoyed the experience so much that he decided to change from a career in Theoretical Nuclear Physics and go into education.
He taught for brief periods in Namibia and Cape Town before a 13 year career back at Kimberley Boys’ High School where he became Deputy Headmaster. “I owe my working knowledge of a school to my years in Kimberley. KHS was a school with the same number of boys as St Andrew’s College, but half the staff, so you got exposure to all aspects of the workings of a school.”
In 1994 he was seconded for a term to the Northern Cape Education Department to assist with the amalgamation of the three racially separate education systems, and thereafter was active as a negotiator for NAPTOSA on the NC Education Labour Relations Council.
While teaching Physical Science and Mathematics in Kimberley he also pursued his love of music and directed many school productions. “The Theatre is magical – children learn a lot about non-competitive teamwork, about responsibility, about contributing their own unique talents towards a common vision, and about life, love, beauty and excellence.”
Aidan moved to St Andrew’s College in 2001 where, over the years, he took up positions Head of the Science Department, Director of Culture and Ceremonies and Housemaster of Graham House. The Andrean community welcomes him to this position and believes that Mr Smith has the passion and intellect to maintain and improve the academic standing of St Andrew’s as a top South African school and we wish him every success in his new position.
