Name
Patrick O’Neill
Job title
Year 5 Leader, The British International School, Abu Dhabi
Where did you go to school and when?
I attended lots of schools as a child because my father, a headmaster, moved around the country for different roles. My early school life began in the Midlands, just outside Rugby. At the age of nine, in 1986, the family moved to North Yorkshire to a little village called Pickering. Here, l attended St Joseph’s Primary School and then moved on to Lady Lumley’s Secondary. At the age of 13, we made our final move to South Wales where l finished my secondary education at St Richard Gwyn High School.
What was your favourite subject?
Without a doubt, anything sports-related and languages. I loved playing team games and representing my school at football, tennis and rugby. My mother was a French and Spanish teacher, so I had a slight advantage with languages and l always loved going on French and Spanish exchanges and having a friend visit us from abroad.
What was your least favourite?
There were a few! Normally this had nothing to do with the subject itself, rather the teacher who taught it. I never really got on with the sciences very well, apart from biology, so I’d say chemistry and physics were my least favourite subjects. I also disliked being told to change or re-edit my literacy work once (I thought!) l had finished it.
Where you good or naughty?
Bit of a mixed bag to be honest. I remember the odd phone call home regarding certain incidents and standing in corridors praying certain senior members of staff didn’t walk past to compound my misery. Having said that, l was pretty well behaved compared to others. It certainly makes you think twice about your behaviour when your dad is the headmaster of your school!
What was the naughtiest thing you did at school?
I tripped up a teacher in the corridor once – goodness knows what l was thinking! I will never forget being marched to the headmaster’s office, the door being flung open and the teacher screaming: ‘You can now explain to your father why you think it’s funny to trip up a teacher!’ Wasn’t my best moment!
What’s your happiest memory from your school days?
Christmas discos rank pretty high up there. Due to some issues with a local school after one of the discos, it was agreed that the venue would be moved from our school hall to the local nightclub in Cardiff. That was a pretty cool experience for a 15 year old! French and Spanish exchanges and representing the school sports teams are the other times that bring back fond memories!
What about the worst one?
Probably breaking my leg in two places playing football when l was 14. It coincided with a Spanish exchange in Barcelona. I was allowed to go, but l had to endure a 27-hour coach journey with my leg in full plaster. When we arrived, everyone piled in to the sea, while l sat on the beach feeling very sorry for myself!
