Staff Spotlight: Alex Tebb

Alex has been involved with Oxford Royale Academy for 8 summers, working with ages 8-18. He has been the Assistant Programme Director at St. Mary's School for the last 2 summers, who is responsible for the day to day running of the campus, and making sure all students have the best time.

I was lucky enough to live in Australia from the ages 9-10. We spent every holiday travelling around, either in Australia and New Zealand. One particular road trip we managed so see Kangaroos crossing the road, Koalas in the trees and the highlight: a wild Platypus in a creek. It felt like a real Australian adventure.

I have loved working for ORA and have always said that I have learnt just as much from the students as they have learnt from me. Working with students from all the world has helped me increase my understanding different cultures. I have also been lucky to work up the supervision ladder, improving my communication, delegating and man management skills.

The most satisfying aspect of this job is listening to the student's stories and opinions after they have spent a summer with us. There is one student who came back for two summers at my campus and he was a joy to work with. 3 years later he came back as a member of staff. I asked him what made him want to come back, his answer "I had such a great time when you looked after us, I wanted to give others the same opportunity.

I would pick a Film Academy course, and really get stuck into the opportunities in front of and behind the camera. The course really allows students to gain an understanding of what goes on in the movie industry, from scripts to post production, and teaches them to use equipment the professionals use.

The environment the students arrive can be quite intimidating, being in a foreign country with people from all the the world without friends of family. But two weeks later it's amazing to see the friendships we have helped create, the smiles on faces when they tell their parents the experiences they had and sadness they have in leaving their Campus, makes me so proud of what we created and opportunities we have given the students.

Getting stuck in. It's a cliché when you hear people say "you get out what you put in", but with Oxford Royale that is really true. We have built a successful company because the staff have got stuck in and made the experience for the students the best it could be. From inspiring the next generation of scientists, to being schooled by a 15 year old on the sports field, the staff have made the program what it is today.