Dear Old Campbellian,

I write to inform you all that I will be standing down as Headmaster at the end of this academic year 2024/2025. By then I will have completed thirty-nine years working within education of which twenty-three years will have been as Headmaster. The past thirteen years have been spent at this wonderful boys’ school.

It seems no time since Michael Graham (OC 6526) phoned to offer me the position, and yet so much has happened since then.

The Headship of Campbell College offered such an exciting opportunity, to lead a highly distinctive school in Northern Ireland. I hope I have served the trust that was placed in me. Campbell is thriving, the ethos and traditions of the College hold it fast. The commitment to holistic education, attracts boys from the British Isles and beyond. Campbell’s reputation is strong. It is a place of tradition, academic success, alongside its cultural heritage, on and off the sports field. We are currently in a very strong position, highly regarded in every area: academic success; pupil support and pastoral care; the many varied co-curricular activities, which include many sports to an extremely high level, and in charitable endeavours.

Northern Ireland, and Belfast in particular, is generously endowed with quality schools, which makes pupil recruitment a relentless but exciting challenge for the Head. I am bold enough to say to you all that the recruitment process should be supported by OC’s whose own experience at the College would lead them to want to send their sons here. The challenge for the current Board of Governors in finding my successor is to find someone who believes and understands the ethos of our school. It necessitates someone who has a belief in grasping the means of integrating and developing the rich diversity of pupils, focused on provision of the best educational environment possible. The New Head should be prepared to ensure that the wellbeing of its pupils and staff are at the heart of everything that happens daily, in addition to a genuine commitment to high pupil achievement, in whatever field that may be.

Throughout my time in Campbell, I have been supported by the Board and by Chairpersons who are totally committed to this place, who as John Young (one of those initial governors who appointed me) would say – “have the College within their bones”. Campbell College is fortunate to have a forward-looking, strong, supportive and committed Board of Governors, which is dedicated to the school, the community and to furthering this institution. The Board should bear in mind that it is also able to rely upon the excellent, dedicated teaching and support staff teams and a wonderful, committed pupil and parental body. It is time for me to retire. Numbers are good, recruitment, academic achievement, participation in co-curricular activity is thriving and the moniker of the ETI report of 2015 is removed. Above all I still believe, as I have done for the last thirteen academic years, that I have the best job in the world. It is time to stop when the College is in such a good position and I continue to feel positive.

The fact that the OC Society, managed by Walter Murphy was within the College and actively engaged to support was one of the most striking features of Campbell when I arrived. I am glad that this has continued and believe that the Old Campbellians have an essential part in our long-term future. OCs must constantly be updated and connected with the College through our communication and events, knowing that they are always welcome here. Throughout last year we particularly enjoyed Keith Haines giving a trilogy of lectures on the College through the actions – good and bad of OCs. This interwoven nature of those who are here and those who have already passed through our gates must be worked at constantly. I am glad to see further developments in the connection between the OCS and the College.

Another facet of this positivity is that at present we are undergoing a series of capital projects, and I hope by the end of my tenure that the Sports Facilities will have reached completion. The new Sports Complex will usher in an age of modernity and provision that will be second to none on the Island of Ireland. The Heritage Works are bringing a dramatic and wonderful freshness to our much-loved main building. I look forward immensely to the completion of this phase as I expect it to be the most dramatic. In addition there are more ambitious projects planned for the future, within and without the stunning 100-acre campus.

The Board has appointed a recruitment agency to look after the advertisement and appointment of my successor, the vacancy being advertised today I believe.

Overall, there are challenges aplenty but there is equally a deep-seated loyalty and passion for the College from every Campbellian constituency which will provide essential support for the continued success.

Finally, and at this stage – long before I begin the process of saying goodbye, can I say thank you to each of you. Some of you I know you all well, some are far away that I have met occasionally, some only by correspondence. Thank you for your support during the past years, and the year ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support of the College. I hope you, like me, wish Campbell College to be known as a place for a truly great educational experience, one that changes lives and brings opportunity.

Ne Obliviscaris,

Robert M Robinson, MBE

Headmaster