Barry O’Shea: ‘We look after our kids, we look after their families, we look after the families of our staff’

BARRIE O’Shea is now teaching some of the grandchildren of the kids he taught in the past, the stalwart Islington headteacher told the Tribune as he prepares to retire.

Mr O’Shea said: “I learned early that if you have got contented, happy parents or parents that feel that someone is trying for them, then you have got children who work much better in school.”

On his first day as a teacher in 1974 at one of his previous schools, St Charles Primary School in Ladbroke Grove, a “little boy” came up to him saying his mother had been beaten up by a man in the street.

Mr O’Shea is interviewed by Duncombe pupils 

“I was told to go down and speak to the mother,” he said. “So I went and knocked on her door. I gave her a cup of tea. We sorted things out, provided support and called the police.”

This moment set a precedent that has shaped Mr O’Shea’s school policy over the past 45 years.

He said: “I can understand schools saying it is not our job to be social workers, it is not our job to be the police, and it’s not our job to be housing officers. No it isn’t, but that is my job here because it is the way I work. I don’t regard it as an imposition, I regard it as something I like doing.”

Mr O’Shea has only ever expelled one pupil in his time as headteacher.

Mr O’Shea asked if he thought he would be a headteacher for so long. 

“Our ethos is lifelong celebration and care,” he added. “We look after our kids, we look after their families, we look after the families of our staff, we look after the families of everyone regardless if they’re here now or 10 years ago.

“I am teaching the grandchildren of some of the children I used to teach.”

After his last day at the end of term, Mr O’Shea plans to go travelling with his wife and taking some time off.

He is considering coming back to the teaching sector as a consultant in the future.