An Interview with Dr Wilkinson

The Inspiration behind the magic

Cat: Was Spirit of Place your idea?
Dr. Wilkinson: Yes, I thought of it at the end of the Christmas term in 2004. It has been running for 3 years now and is a huge success!

Cat: What were your motives for creating Spirit of Place?
Dr. Wilkinson: I noticed that the pupils at Canford were very run down by the end of the summer term, until their house party came along, then they were filled with a new energy. I wanted to capture that energy with this alternative enjoyment because I was unhappy with the way pupils spent their time in the last few days of term. I wanted to keep the momentum going.

Cat: Did everyone agree with your idea or did some have doubts?
Dr. Wilkinson: I think about 85% were happy with the idea, including the headmaster, who gave me the job of making the school a more interesting place. I was put in charge of two things; Spirit of Place and Slam.

Cat: Do you think Spirit of Place has been a success and in what way?
Dr. Wilkinson: I was pleased with the result of 2005 and was especially delighted with last years as well. One of my aims was to get pupils of all ages working with each other to produce some truly fantastic projects. It turned out even better than I had anticipated!

Cat: Do the results of any particular groups this year interest you?
Dr. Wilkinson: The groups I am most interested in the outcome of includes;
Lights Camera Action, Poetry in the Park, Posters in the Park, Opposites Attract, Bags of Room, Sensory Gardens and of course Magazine!