The Music Man
I was back on the road with producer Deirdre Leitch this morning, this time we rolled up at Millburn Academy in Inverness for another radio workshop for pupils. We were directed to the music department which is housed in a series of huts at the back of the school and were then introduced to ten of the most enthusiastic teenagers we've yet encountered. We're supposed to be working with groups of eight, but it would take someone with a harder heart than me to send two of them back to double-maths.
The music teacher, Andrew Sutcliffe, seems to be a very popular man. No sooner had we started our spiel than the phone rang. Yes, the phone. Who knew that classrooms had phones? I grabbed the receiver off the wall..
"Music department!" I said. With ten pair of eyes staring at me I tried to sound confident and in control . Later Deirdre told me I sounded like a madman and that she was half-expecting a SWAT team to appear in the playground. The caller was trying to find Mr Sutcliffe. I explained that he'd just nipped out for a few minutes. I also explained that to the next caller and the one after that.
No matter, the Millburn pupils were eager and attentive and were soon roaming the school with digital recorders, interviewing their classmates about global warming and Elton John's plans for a concert in Inverness.
Mr Sutcliffe then put the kettle on for a cup of tea and told us a few funny stories including one about a group of pupils who had been taken to a local hotel to learn about the catering industry. The hotelier finished his presentation and then asked the group if there were any questions. There was an uncomfortable silence, but one eager-to-please girl stuck her hand in the air.
"Good, " said the hotelier, "now what's your question?"
"I just wondered, " said the girl, "did you watch Eastenders last night?"
You can hear more about our day at Millburn Academy in next week's edition of The Highland Cafe and if you want more inside stories about Scottish schools then be sure to catch Larry Sullivan's new series of Teacher's Tales on our Listen Again service.
