A “Big Move Up”

After just 16 months of teaching, Mr. David Thompson, of 21. Old Mill Road. Conisbrough. will be taking up a new post at Danum Grammar School for Boys, Doncaster, when the new term begins this month — as Head of the Music Department.

Twenty three-years-old Mr Thompson, who was a pupil at Station Road Junior School, Conisbrough, went on to study history, economics and music at Mexborough Grammar School before going to Hull University five years ago. There he studied for his Special Honours Degree in Music which he was awarded two years ago.

After graduating from Hull, Mr. Thompson spent one year at Nottingham University and gained his Education Diploma. During that time he spent his teaching practice at Long Eaton Primary and the Henry Mellish Grammar Schools.

When he came out of Nottingham in 1966, he took a post as one of the two music teachers at Edlington Comprehensive School, where he was in charge of the 70 strong choir and the brass band which played at the official opening of the school by the Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Wilson, in November.

At present, Mr. Thompson is studying part-time with Hull University doing music research for a M.A. Degree This involves a tour year course for which he will be writing a thesis early next year.

At the end of October, he was appointed to the post at the Danum Grammar School as Head of the Music Department. “It is a big move up,” he said this week, “I am delighted with it, although I didn’t expect anything like this for four or five years. It will give me a chance to try my own teaching methods.”

His present ambition is to develop the 50 piece orchestra which exists at the Grammar School, but which as yet has no-one permanently in charge.