Eugene du Toit

Let's start our discussion with the culture of Haileybury – how would you describe the qualities of a typical Haileybury pupil? "Girls and boys from the UK and around the world come to Haileybury and we create that situation, that environment where we look to inspire them, to empower them, to challenge them and support them to be the very best that they can be. So there's a culture of 'can do' at Haileybury. There's a culture of aiming high, being the best that you can be. There's a culture of being aspirational and working together to achieve great things. And we do, our kids are remarkable. And girls and boys of all ages come together to do great things together. So I think it's a culture of can do, a culture of doing great things together."

Haileybury is academically selective, but putting aside those academic results, what do you feel that success looks like for a Haileybury pupil?
"So what we encourage Haileyburians to do is to give of their best. We encourage them to aim high. We encourage them to work hard. So success for them looks like achieving their goals and setting those ambitious objectives and then working hard towards them. And so there are those tangible outcomes, which we are proud of – academic, co-curricular – but there are also less tangible outcomes, the type of person they become. And we want young people to be able to walk and work with everyone. We want them to serve those around them. We want them to make a positive difference to the world. And these are less measurable, but they are equally important. The character of the young people leaving Haileybury is important to us and just as important to us, as is that measurable academic outcome. So for us, success is not only what you've achieved, but how you've done it and what sort of person you are when you leave the school."

On that co-curricular side, can you give me a sort of flavour of some of the opportunities that are on offer?
"It's vast. The drama... Just this weekend, I'm looking forward to watching 'Legally Blonde' which is going to be great fun. We watched Handel's 'Messiah' in our beautiful chapel a short while ago. This season, we've got football and netball and boys' hockey. I handed out certificates to our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh kids recently and Silver and Gold all going on. I said, 'well done' to kids who have been serving in the community. So the breadth of opportunity is just remarkable. And it is inclusive. So if you just want to learn something or try something new or just keep fit and take part, that's great. But if you want to represent the country, you can also do that. And you can go to the very highest level. We're preparing for our Model United Nations conference. Last year, we had the 30th anniversary. It's the largest Model United Nations conference of its type for pupils in the world. So the breadth is just quite something at Haileybury. There's something for everyone."

If you were to ask a group of recent leavers about what they remember most fondly about their time at Haileybury, what do you think they would say?
"So Houses are very central to life at Haileybury. We have 12 Houses in the Senior School and then we have a Lower School House. And there is such a strong affinity and relationship to a young person's House. It's where they live and learn together. Obviously lots of borders staying over the weekend, but day pupils are in Houses as well – in the same House.

And is that therefore... they're from what, 13 through to 18?
So in the Lower School... Our House in the Lower School is just for Year 7 and 8. Yes. And then it's Senior School Houses. And then it's 13 to 18 – obviously six girls, six boys, vertical houses, yes. House nights, House excursions, just being together. So I would dare say, and having met lots of alumni and had lots of events, the affection that Old Haileyburians have for their House is quite remarkable. And the friendships that are in Houses – but obviously friendships span and go across Houses and year groups – but I would dare say the affinity, the affection for the House is something that really stands out. And then kids are very proud of the school. I think there's a real sense of collaboration at Haileybury. It's culturally quite flat. There's a sense of real collaboration. It's not hierarchical. There is healthy discipline, there's healthy structure, there is healthy... expectation. But we have wonderful young people at the school and they work hard, they give their all. And we have a wonderful team of staff. So there is that real sense of working together, teaching staff, operations staff, great kids, families. And that sense of strong community is palpable. So it's a wonderful sort of collection of various bits that create a great outcome."

Now, looking to the future I noticed the school has recently launched its Haileybury 2030 Development Plan. What will this mean for pupils?
"So yes, we're proud of that vision statement. It's a five year vision statement. There's a real clarity of purpose. And that vision statement was... when I joined the school – I'm in my second year now – sense of we're proud of what we've achieved, great success, but with the sense of what's next? We need a plan of where do we go from here? How do we get even better? So that was... I led that process with teachers, ops team – operations team – parents were invited to contribute. We got an external consultant to just sort of add a bit of grist to the mill. Pupils were consulted, alumni were given the chance of... Governors, of course, were then given the final draft to challenge and to scrutinise. And then together we came up with that five year vision statement. So there's a clear plan of action for Haileybury. It's bold, it's ambitious, it's realistic, but it stretches us to get even better. And ultimately our purpose is defined by our pupils. Our pupils are our North star. And we define our success by how well we do for them and through them. So we want every young person to leave Haileybury equipped with the values, the skills, the credentials they need to thrive and to make a positive impact on the world. And what we do at Haileybury needs to be relevant to the world that young people are going into. So we are challenging ourselves to obviously hold on to all the best of the past as organisations do, but to look forward confidently and with clarity of thought and clarity of purpose, because that's what we need to do for our young people. And that's what we're deeply committed to doing."

Independent schools – as a final question – they are under a lot of pressure at the moment in the current economic climate. How do you reassure parents therefore that independent schooling is still the right choice?
"I believe independent education offers an experience that is life-changing. And I think that a Haileybury education is a life-changing opportunity. It's obviously a deeply personal decision and it's a decision that every family and parent must make independently. But our job, our responsibility, our privilege is to provide an opportunity for young people to learn and live and grow in a setting which helps them become the very best version of themselves. And I think independent education can do that. And I'm very proud of being the Master of Haileybury. I'm very proud of what Haileybury does. And it's something that we're committed to doing for many, many years to come."

Eugene du Toit was talking to Attain's Editor, Matthew Smith.