S2 E19: Eton College Head Master Simon Henderson: Inside the school where leaders are made
Big Fish with Spencer Matthews
Global
4.8 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 8 August 2023
⏱️ 44 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Eton College is one of the most famous boarding schools in the UK. It's educated 20 of Britain’s 57 prime ministers and has churned out many successful people over its nearly 600 year history. Eton is an easy thing to judge, but I wonder if some of your preconceptions will be challenged after hearing this week’s episode. Simon Henderson has been headmaster at Eton’s since 2015 and this interview gives you a rare insight into how things are done at one of the country’s most prestigious schools. I guarantee you’ll learn something from this episode. Simon’s views - especially on testing and extra-curricular activities - may surprise you.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is a global player original podcast. |
| 0:05.7 | If by woke people mean, you know, I believe in kindness, understanding, respect, tolerance, treating people decently, trying to have empathy, trying to understand things from other people's perspectives, then, you know, guilty is charged. |
| 0:21.2 | Welcome to Big Fish with me, Spencer Matthews. |
| 0:23.8 | Each week I speak to inspirational people about how they reach the top of their game |
| 0:27.4 | and their mindset for success. |
| 0:31.9 | Eaton College is one of the most famous boarding schools in the UK. |
| 0:34.7 | It's known for its history, wealth and notable alumni educating 20 |
| 0:39.1 | of Britain's 57 prime ministers, and it's churned out many successful people over its near 600-year |
| 0:45.9 | history. Eaton is a pretty easy thing to judge, but I wonder if some of your preconceptions |
| 0:50.8 | might be challenged after hearing this week's episode. My guest today is Eaton's |
| 0:54.8 | headmaster Simon Henderson. He happens to be my former hockey coach and took on the role as head |
| 0:59.5 | in 2015 with a clear mission to make the school more accessible. He's been under the spotlight |
| 1:06.0 | after being described as Eaton's most controversial headmaster and more recently has been criticised for implementing a woke agenda. |
| 1:14.2 | This interview gives you a pretty rare insight into how things have done at one of the country's most prestigious schools. |
| 1:20.5 | This episode is also a trip down memory lane for me, and you'll get to hear what one of my former teachers actually thought of me at school. |
| 1:28.3 | Mr. Henderson. |
| 1:33.3 | Feels odd calling you that. |
| 1:35.3 | I can probably call you Simon now, can I? |
| 1:37.3 | I think you're allowed to, Spencer, yeah. |
| 1:38.3 | Did you ever see yourself sitting here being interviewed by me? |
| 1:43.3 | Well, that is a question. sitting here being interviewed by me? |
| 1:47.7 | Well, that is a question. |
... |
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