Maria the Cleaner

Headmaster’s Routh Assembly Address
Monday 3rd May 2021

Video Recording of Routh Address 
(apologies, the recording froze at the end of the address) 

Good morning. With university offers very much on the minds of the Upper Sixth and a number having already secured places in prestigious Medical Schools next year, I was reminded of a story I read some years ago. A group of medical students arrived at their College one day to sit their final exams. Five long years of studying everything from anatomy to advanced chemistry to surgical procedures, and this was their last hurdle. Pass these papers and they would become fully fledged doctors.

So, they trooped into the familiar lecture theatre, where they had sat for so many seminars and tutorials in the past, and the Course Director, who they knew well, told them to turn over their papers and begin. Which they did. But the air of nervous tension suddenly turned to one of shock and dismay when they saw what was written there. Just one question, worth 100%. It read “What is the name of the lady who cleans this building?”

Confused and upset, one of the students put their hand up and asked the Course Director, if this was a joke? And here is what he said. “For five years you have been coming into this building to learn your craft and every day, you have passed Maria (who was the cleaner). Who amongst you has spoken with her? Who has thanked or even acknowledged her? Who has enquired after her life? Knows whether she has children or pets or enjoys her job?

You want to be doctors and all of you will be. Each of you is extremely clever. But being a doctor is not just about knowing the Latin names of drugs or being able to diagnosis a thousand ailments. It is also about relating to your patients. To be a really good doctor, you need to know how to connect with other people. How to see them for who they are, not what they represent. And I am not just talking about the gratitude that we owe Maria for ensuring that we always walk into a clean and tidy environment.” The lecturer went on.
“You all know my name and my background. You have learned a bit about me because I have influence over your future. Yet you have seen Maria twice as often as you have seen me over the years. She is not ‘the cleaner.’ She is Maria. Does it matter that she is older than you? Does it matter that she wears a uniform and mops floors? You, too, will soon wear scrubs and, just like Maria, you will serve other people.” He paused, and then he said “Don’t worry, you have all passed this course. But I want you to remember this one final lesson of your medical training: all people matter, regardless of what they do for a living.”

I have often thought of that story as I have watched you interact with those who serve our School. Our own cleaners, who keep your classrooms and Houses pristine, especially during the double-shifts they worked to keep us healthy throughout the pandemic. The gardeners, who take such personal pride in presenting to us these magnificent grounds.

The Catering team, who conjure up culinary miracles every day, serving you with the added spice of a smile. The men and women who do your laundry, repair your buildings, drive your buses, fix your IT woes. I watch you and I am proud of the way in which you respect them.

We all know that there are negative stereotypes about schools like ours. Perceptions that you are all entitled, arrogant young snobs, treating staff like servants, taking privilege for granted. And we all know that is not us. Not Bromsgrove. But this morning, I want to acknowledge why that isn’t us. Why our culture is different.

It is not because I say so. It is because you do so. I can encourage you to be respectful, to show empathy and compassion, as much as I like. Even stuck like this, still on Zoom, rather than together in person as we ought to be. But only you can do so. And you do. I want you to know how grateful I am for that.
And not just because of the credit it brings to the School. I had an interview with a prospective family last week and they turned up a few minutes late. It wasn’t a problem at all, but they were most apologetic. It turns out the reason they were delayed was because so many of you had stopped them on the journey from the carpark to my Study to ask them if they needed help. Welcoming them to the School, saying hello. I appreciate that. I will put you all on the Marketing payroll.

But that level of courtesy does not just benefit the School. In a world that is increasingly focussed upon the quality of relationships, your ability to connect with other people, especially strangers, and your willingness to see them for who they are, rather than jump to shallow judgement or just ignore them altogether, that trait will define you. And it is as simple as the maxim “Be Kind.”


This past year has not just seen a medical pandemic. It has also seen an epidemic of awareness, and anger, about the mistreatment of others. The #MeToo movement. Black Lives Matter. The current focus upon sexual harassment and abuse. Add to that issues of class discrimination that have dogged this country and many others. Maria the cleaner is not the only Briton to have suffered from ideas of class. Each of those campaigns has been about social justice and they all have a common thread. A failure to accept and respect other people for who they are. To see them as equals, deserving of the same treatment we would want for ourselves.

None of us are perfect in that regard. We are always able to be more tolerant, more respectful. But I wanted to tell you this morning that I am grateful for your daily conduct in this place. For the courtesy and mutual respect that you show not only to your peers and your teachers, but to every person who serves the School.
Let me leave you with one final thought. Last week I emailed each of you a poll to help select next year’s Monitors. It was not a democratic election; I am afraid you live in a benevolent dictatorship when it comes to those appointments. However, I respect your opinions greatly, they will help in deciding who will lead the School next year. As you made your selections though, I hope you thought about how various people made you feel.

Bromsgrove is blessed with plenty of outstanding sportsmen and women. We have legions of brilliant musicians and actors. More than our share of academic genius. But those successes alone are not what makes for good leadership. Good leaders are those who make others feel valued. Who inspire our confidence because we think they understand us. We follow people who respect us, and I hope that was who you chose. And, of course, I hope you continue this week to show your own respect and appreciation for all the others who serve us, each day, throughout the School.