Meeting The New Staff- (5) Dr Toby Smith (Head of Religious Studies)

The fifth member of staff who joined Bablake in 2013-14 to face the firing line of questions set by our Wheatleyan reporters, Editor Becky Williamson, Deputy Editor Connor Putnam and aspiring journalist Hayley Smith, was Dr Toby Smith, our new Head of Religious Studies. 

The interview began, as always, with the quick questions!

1. Strictly or X Factor? Neither.
2. TOWIE or Made in Chelsea? Neither.
3. Facebook or Twitter? Facebook.
4. Snapchat or Instagram? Neither!
5. Tea or Coffee? Tea.
6. Fizzy Drinks or Water? Water.
7. UK or Abroad? UK.
8. Marmite! Love it or hate it? Hate it! 
9. Hockey or Netball? Neither.
10. Rugby or Football? Rugby.
11. TV: On Demand or Live? On Demand.
12. Book or Film? Book.
13. Research: Library or Google? Google.
14. Home-cooking or Takeaway? Home-cooking.
15. Going Out or Staying In? Going out.
16. Seeing the Sights or Sitting by the Pool? Seeing the sights!
17. Play it Safe or Daredevil? Play it safe.
18. Old School or Nu Skool? Old School!
19.Vintage or Contemporary? Vintage.
20. Who did you think would win the World Cup? Germany. (Verified answer, as the interview happened before the tournament!)

The interview continued with a few broader questions.

Where did you go to school?
Camp Hill Boys' Grammar, in Birmingham.

Where did you go to university?
Durham University.

What was the most useful thing that you learnt throughout your education?
I learnt two things- the power of meditation to calm one's mind and the fact that the way humans have thought about the world changes over history.

Please tell us briefly about your role at Bablake?
I was appointed as Head of Religious Studies.

Are you involved with any co-curricular activities?
Yes, cricket, and I have started a Meditation club.

What's the most rebellious thing you have ever done... that you can tell us about?!
Having long hair at school!

What are your favourite hobbies?
Golf and cricket.

What is your favourite type of music?
Blues, folk and rock.

Where in the world would you love to go?
Mongolia.

If you had one superpower, what would it be?
The ability to read other people's minds!

And finally, we know you are an amazing musician, but do you have any further hidden talents, a party piece maybe…?
Yo-yoing!

Dr Smith has made a very positive impact on Bablake in less than 12 months, both as a popular teacher and U6th form tutor, and as a regular presence on stage at our successful charity concerts. This led your reporter to wish he had been given two further specific quick-fire questions of his own: (i) Dylan or Cohen and (ii) 'School of Rock' or 'Sister Act'! Maybe we'll find out in another interview!

For now, we again thank Becky, Connor and Hayley for setting the questions for this interview.