MILAN -- Chris Greenhalgh, man of letters, acclaimed poet and author of the novel Coco and Igor, this month became the new Principal at The British School of Milan. He told the Italian Insider he sees his role as using “emotional intelligence” and “administrative efficiency” to ensure that students can achieve not only outstanding results in the IB’s rich curriculum but also to develop their inner lives to “become comfortable with themselves.”

  "For parents their children's education is the biggest investment, and it must be based on 100 percent trust, and faith” Dr Greenhalgh, aged 51, said in an interview. “This is why I remember to remain humble. They could have chosen other places." 

 Dr. Greenhalgh underlines two aspects of his work as Head, “one being creative, one being communicative.” His advice to anyone hoping to pursue a career as head of an educational institution, “is to be yourself and lead by example, both being emotionally intelligent about what is going on, and acting as a CEO to be administratively efficient." 

 This is especially true, he says, when it comes to dealing with parents. Being the father of two sons himself helps to understand better families’ needs and expectations from the school. 

 "I'm just myself, because I think in the end if you try to be something you're not you won't succeed because you cannot keep up." 

 In working to bring out the best in his colleagues, the BSM’s talented team of teachers, he says, "the key is to avoid boredom. It is about creating a culture in which teachers are comfortable being the way they are. The most important thing is to understand the different teaching methods."

 Founded in 1969 with only a handful of pupils from age 3 to 18, the Sir James Henderson British School of Milan (SJH) now has some 650 students. The school follows the English National  Curriculum in the Lower School, culminating in the Upper School with public (I) GCSE exams, and in the Sixth Form pursuing the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, a programme which is defined by BSM as the "gold standard of world education, the best preparation for universities and the globally competitive world of work." 

 "If you were to wipe the slate clean and let someone come up with an educational system, you would probably come up with something like the IB,” Dr Greenhalgh says, “because no student at the age of 16 should stop doing maths, science, a humanity, literature and  language," which happen to be the compulsory subjects for the IB. Up to three academic scholarships are awarded annually to pupils of high academic ability joining the IB Diploma programme.

 The BSM offers art courses for the IB Diploma as well, and Dr. Greenhalgh comments that for a relatively small institution "the quality is very high." The school has performed music at the Vatican, and "not many get this privilege. Many creative activities take place in our school in art, music, and drama, so in addition to that rigorous curriculum we offer much more intellectual stimuli."

 The IB Diploma and the compulsory additional course 'Theory of Knowledge' (TOK) is fundamental for students to remain open minded," he says. TOK makes students question, "how do you know what you know?" 

Summing up his approach to education, Dr Greenhalgh says "Educated people have inner lives. The richness means you can never be lonely, you can enjoy solitude and education as a part of development, so that people can become comfortable with themselves."

  He defends the choice of pursuing a British education, saying that ”The British Educational system is known for its rigour." Dr Greenhalgh taught for a short time in America at the St. Paul School in Concord, Massachusetts and he says, "the students there were very creative, they had all the technology, but they couldn't spell.”

  He expresses some healthy doubts, also, regarding the use of technology in schools. "I like technology, we offer internet and email services, yet I am in favour of choice. Nobody should be forced to use a laptop.”

  A Lancastrian who grew up in Manchester and studied at the Universities of Hull and East Anglia, he previously worked in Italy, Athens, and at Sevenoaks School, England, an international public school where he is remembered as an inspirational influence on the students, and was Principal  of Southbank International School in London. An accomplished author, he has written three books of poetry, winning the Eric Gregory Award, and two novels. His novel Coco and Igor, which he wrote during school holidays from Sevenoaks, was made into a film (Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky) selected for the 2009 Cannes Film Festival with international release in 2010.

  The BSM is managed by a Board of Governors made up of eight parent-elected governors, two ex officio governors, and two independent governors. The school is a non-profit organisation, "the objective is to institute quality British education in Milan.” 

 "Parents are encouraged to communicate their concerns, and also their delights,” Dr Greenhalgh says. “I try to deal with all in a strategic way. We need to thank the parents who choose to send their kids here." 

 (Interview edited by Isabel Sawkins)