<B>Discipline, his vision of education</B>

The headmaster of Northfields International High School was appointed less than two years ago. Here, he takes stock of what he has achieved and what he wants for the school in the future?

Clive Barnes arrived in Mauritius in May 2005 and brought along with him his long experience. Before coming to Northfields International High School, he was headmaster in two different schools in Zimbabwe. The first was Cranborne Boys? School. This is actually where he did his teacher training which shows how he has climbed the ladder to the top.

After leaving that school at 34, he joined a prestigious boys? school, called Prince Edward, where he spent twenty years. During that time, he managed to make it the fifth best school in Africa. He even met Prince Edward himself, who went to Zimbabwe, in the mid-nineties. But what is sure is that those twenty years spent there have made him the person he is today.

Despite the problem of segregation in Zimbabwe in the mid-eighties, he fought his way through. Even if he was a white man, he tried to introduce multi-cultural and multi-national education. ?Those twenty years that I spent as headmaster of the Prince Edward were maybe the most important years in my professional life. During those years, I was really able to develop my skills as the head of school. I had up to 1,500 boys and 300 staff. I suppose that I became very central to the educating process in Zimbabwe. I was even used as consultant by the government.?

His ambitions for Northfields are high. Founded in 2002, it has never stopped expanding in size, human resources, students and success. Clive Barnes wants to build on this success and make it an even greater school by using his vast experience. He has already begun to achieve his objectives.

When Clive walks around the school to check on things, the respect that the students have for him is incredible. But what is particular is their friendly approach towards him. Indeed, when he is walking around, students come to him happily just to say hello. And, even if some have misbehaved, they are not scared to come and apologize in a very polite way. Actually, discipline is an important aspect that can be noticed in the school. When Clive walks into the classrooms, all the children stand up for him.

?Travelling and reading are my favourite hobbies. One thing I love is collecting antiques, but only when they are affordable. When I have more spare time, I do some cycling and swimming. However, it is not easy to practise those hobbies due to lack of time. I am here six days a week.?

Clive was born on 8th March 1950 in Mill Hill, London. He left England for Zimbabwe when he was only eight years old and he did some of his primary and secondary education there. In 1972, he got his BA in English, History and Economics. That was in South Africa in Natal. Then, in 1973 he completed his PGCE in English teaching through the University of London, but he did his teacher training in Zimbabwe. He really started to teach when he was 23 years old. He got married to Jane in 1984. They have two daughters, Harriet and Jessica.

?My contract expires in 2008. We will see at that time how much of me is left that can be used to make this school become even greater. But so far I am enjoying life in Mauritius very much. It is wonderful here??