Try To Be Ten Per Cent Braver

What are you planning to do next? Be Headmistress of Channing School

What has been the highlight of your time at LEH? There have been so many! Teaching history, of course, to successive groups of L4 and U4, as well as a couple of GCSE classes.  I never got to teach as much as I like so they bore the brunt of my pent-up enthusiasm for my subject.  Also the wonderful group of quizzers at my Friday lunchtime Schools Challenge club – a highlight of my week and lots of fun! Christmas at LEH is brilliant fun – the U6 panto is always hilarious and I loved my five years of being utterly ridiculous on stage for everyone.  Sailing in on the scooter to save the day by being Mrs Hanbury’s partner on Love Island last year was a particularly great moment!

Do you have any favourite ancedotes/memories of your time at LEH? The sight of the entire U6 almost flinging themselves off the balcony in the Assembly Hall screaming ‘Five Gold Rings’ at the top of their voices during the annual rendition of The 12 Days of Christmas is definitely up there. Plus the History department’s victory over English in the staff croquet tournament – we’re still talking about that.  And the wonderful events we put on for International Women’s Day in my last two years.  It was great to work with a really passionate team of L6 and staff to put the day together and get everyone involved.

What makes the school so special? The people, and how much they care about each other.

Will you miss the school dinners?! Do you have a favourite dish?! Rachel and her team cook up a storm every day!  I will miss the endless variety of the salad bar, full of things I would never spend the time to prepare at home, the meatballs and of course the chicken katsu curry.  Plus the cookies!

Do you have a favourite part of the school? Where is it and why is it?! Is it OK to say my office?  I have done a lot over 5 years to make it as warm and welcoming as possible, and I loved it when people would just drop in to say hi or to offload something that was on their mind.

Have you had any “only at LEH” moments? Only at LEH - every performance of Star in the Sky by the Holles Singers.  I particularly loved the ones at the St Giles' Cripplegate Carol Service where alumnae squeeze onto the choral risers with everyone to join in.  A complete tear-jerker!

What will be your abiding memory of LEH? Laughing with Mrs Hanbury, mostly, and with the rest of the senior team and staff.

What has teaching at LEH taught you? Never underestimate the power of intelligent girls to take you off track and onto something completely different (and thanks to all the groups who managed this so consistently!)

What’s your message for pupils/alumnae? You all know exactly what this will be: what would you do if you were 10% braver?