My friend and colleague Peter Hollis, who has died aged 81, was a charismatic and revolutionary headteacher of Oaklands community school in Southampton from 1982 until 2006.
Under his leadership, a school without prefects, house points, prayers, blazers and, above all, without streaming, put pupils and a faith in their capacity for autonomous learning at the centre of its mission. An understanding that pupils who had learned how to learn would have the confidence and belief in themselves to succeed in life underpinned Peter’s steadfast organisation of the school through mixed-ability groups and according to principles of equality. It took a combination of toughness and imagination to achieve this.
Born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, into a large, deprived family, Peter was the youngest son of Joseph, a gardener, and Mary (nee Adams), a maid, and grew up during the blitz. Against the odds, Peter gained a scholarship to Watford grammar school, where, he admitted, he was a relatively idle pupil, though fortunately he was encouraged and supported by his headteacher, Harry Rée (later professor of education at York University).
Peter achieved a first in chemistry at Hull University and eventually gained a doctorate in quantum physics at Keele University, working with some of the earliest computers.
His apprenticeship as a teacher was at Countesthorpe college, opened in 1970 as Leicestershire’s radical experiment in comprehensive education and individual learning. There he played a key part in developing a system of teaching in teams. He moved to Southampton in 1981 to take up the post of head at Shirley Warren secondary school and oversaw its closure before opening the new Oaklands community school the following year.
In his work there he built dedicated groups of teachers around him and deeply respected the contributions of his staff. As Oaklands was a community school Peter emphasised the importance of local connections, and liaison between the school’s daytime work and that of the community side of the establishment was essential. A crèche and youth wing developed under his leadership.
When appointed OBE in 2001 for services to education, he characteristically said that the award was for the progress made by “past and present students” and the “hard work” of his staff. Retiring in 2006, he continued to teach maths inspirationally to excluded youngsters at Compass school, the pupil referral unit for Southampton, remaining true to the Oaklands motto – “Look after each other”.
Away from teaching, Pete’s passion was ballroom dancing, and in retirement he attended local classes six or seven times a week. He loved all sports, both as a player, especially rugby union and golf, and as a spectator – he supported Watford FC. He also loved food and eating out, in particular with his second wife, Marnie (nee Harding), whom he married in 1995 and to whom he was devoted.
Marnie died in 2010. Peter is survived by a daughter, Judy, from his first marriage, to Jane, which ended in divorce, and by Marnie’s son, Warwick. His elder daughter, Sally, predeceased him.
