Staff Leavers

Fond Farewells...

As I was saying goodbye to the year 13 this term, I found it diffi cult to believe that it is exactly 40 years since I took my A levels and went to study for a Music degree at Nottingham University. After teacher training in London’s East End, I was appointed as Director of Music at Surbiton High School. After eight years teaching Music and being the Examinations Offi cer, I decided to move back to the North West where I took up a job in ICT and Management at Salford University. I obtained a Master’s Degree in problem solving and became a tutor, teaching students and industrialists. We decided to move to a small village called Ennerdale Bridge, in the Lake District; I worked at St Bees School where I taught Music and was also the Head of Careers. My daughter, Georgina, was born in Cumbria and, after 13 years, we moved back to Manchester and both of us came to Bolton School. I have taught here for the past twelve years, teaching Music, ICT, and have been a sixth form tutor. I was also the head of the Able and Talented programme and organised for the poet Laureate, Carol Ann Duffy to come into School. Recently I have worked as the Head of Music, and I have been privileged to conduct a mixed choir of over 300 singers in the Bridgewater Hall and also led the wonderful Ceremony of Carols.

In February, Bolton School’s longest serving librarian, Mrs Frew, retired from the ranks. Having worked here for thirty years, she has seen a considerable amount of the School’s recent history. After leaving school, Mrs Frew went to Newcastle University to study librarianship. On moving back to Manchester with her husband, she started working at Bolton School in 1984. One of the major jobs Mrs Frew undertook during her time here was the computerisation of the library catalogue. Under Mrs Frew, the Junior and Boys’ Division libraries have also been integrated into that same system, creating the revolutionary library system that we have today! Another aspect of what Mrs Frew leaves behind her is the two books written about old headmistresses of the school. These contributions to the history of our school were another important part of the work she did. In retirement, Mrs Frew is making the transition into a lady who lunches, as well as continuing her bookish habits by running an ex-staff book swap. We hope she enjoys a relaxing retirement, and thank her for all the work she has done for the library and the school over the years! Written by Emma Hussain, Year 11 On my fi rst day at BSGD, as a fresh-faced NQT called Miss Johnson, I was wrongly directed to the sixth form centre. Now, 19 years, 3 Heads, 4 HoDs and myriad students later, I strangely don’t seem to have the same trouble... My memories include: • being the staff union representative and school council coordinator (the fl ags were waved when we secured the hot drinks machine and water fountains) • umpteen whole school /GCSE Drama/Theatre Studies productions in various roles: directing/lighting/sound/ make-up (there’s no such thing as a little blood) • TV appearances with the Quiz Club and girls’ fi lms shown at national festivals; • the Prefects’ Panto , in which I was portrayed annually as a feminist with a micro-skirt and cardigan • the Christmas Post (gone are the days when I knew who the girls were parodying) • the smiles, the silliness and yes, the tears I’ve shared with both staff and students. But my abiding memories and my biggest joys are simple: they are the girls, their stories, their journeys, their happiness. I may not have risen to the dizzy heights of management. But, in my small way, if I have helped them to grow into fulfi lled, self-respecting, happy adults, then it’s a job well done. I will cherish these comments that two girls made: “ We learnt a lot in your lessons, and it wasn’t just about English.” “ Thank you for being my friend when I didn’t have one”. And I want to thank all my colleagues and students for a memorable 19 years.

Stephanie Adlam has been at BSGD for one year and has made quite an impact. She has worked in the Music department teaching Middle School, GCSE and A level classes. She has also run the Middle School Choir this year, conducted the Autumn concert, Ceremony of Carols and the May Serenade. She was also a representative member of staff at the Star Ball in the Hilton hotel, Manchester. She has enjoyed her time at BSGD tremendously and will be very much missed. After studying Applied Physics and Electronics at Durham, my fi rst two teaching posts were at Bury Convent, and Bridgewater School as Head of Physics and Chemistry. When I fi rst arrived at BSGD, the Technology Suite was a set of cloakrooms; girls wore indoor shoes (Jesus sandals); we had family service at lunchtime in three separate dining rooms with ten girls and a member of staff on a big table; you had to eat a piece of fruit with a knife and fork. I was in charge of lunches for many years and it’s my fault that we have ID badges as they replaced the lunch tickets. Interactive whiteboards replaced blackboard and chalk and now iPads are replacing pen and paper. So I suppose it is fi tting that this old relic is replaced by a newer model. I wish you all very happy lives and I will think of you when I am out riding my horse and you are all in school working hard.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bolton School Girls’ Division and feel very lucky to have started my career here. I will always be grateful to the Religious Studies Department for their help and encouragement and, especially, for always responding to my newest idea and exclamation of ‘it’s so exciting!’ with such support. I have loved taking every opportunity to become ever more involved in the life of the school and to work with such creative and engaged young people, in both an academic and pastoral capacity. I had no idea that becoming a Sixth Form tutor would be the highlight of my year; the girls have been a delight and I will miss starting each day by catching up on the events in their lives. As excited as I am to embark on the next stage of my career, I know that I will miss the Girls’ Division very much and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and students who have made the last three years so wonderful. I grew up in London in the Swinging Sixties; I saw the Stones play in Hyde Park, I bought mini dresses in Biba, made them even shorter, and hitched around Europe. Many Bolton School girls head South, ending up in London; I moved North, studying at Leeds University, and have never regretted it. I always enjoyed the gritty urban landscapes of the Northern cities, and was absolutely bowled over by the Lake District when I went there as a student. The girls at Bolton School are just as sparky and accomplished as ever they were. It is still great fun to bat away cheeky comments; ‘I like your hair, Mrs Keenan. What colour was it before?’. The one constancy over the years has been the amazing commitment and energy of the staff. In my position as Head of Upper School, I have had an unrivalled overview of life in Years 10 and 11, and I never cease to be impressed with how observant and how caring our staff are, and how they give so freely of their time. The academic life of the school surges forward but it is underpinned by our strong pastoral structures; the pastoral care in Bolton School is second to none. This is ever more signifi cant as, increasingly, life outside of school impinges on life in school. During my years here, I have been Head of Careers, Head of Geography, Second Mistress (a rather dubious title if ever there was one) and Head of Upper School, so I have worked closely with practically everyone on the staff: teachers, nurses, secretaries and technicians, something I have thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, the Geographers have a particular place in my heart and I am full of admiration for them because they are exactly what I think teachers ought to be, committed to the wider life of the school, playing such key roles in establishing the SKCV charity, World Challenge, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award. It has certainly been a hectic 31 years, and now I can look forward to having time to read the morning paper over a cup of coffee and climb a few more hills! I began my career as a History teacher at Xaverian Sixth Form College in Manchester. I stayed for nine years at Xaverian before deciding to have a career break to stay at home to care for our two young children. They were wonderful years but, so as not to be deskilled, I became an examiner and then for many years was a team leader for GCSE History. In 2002 I came here to BSGD to work in the legendary History Department. My proudest achievement has been, along with Brian Davies, introducing Politics as an A Level subject into the school. Politics is “History on the wing” and has been a joy to teach. I can’t quite believe it has been thirty six years since I started in the profession. I will defi nitely miss the camaraderie of my colleagues and working with all the enthusiastic and talented young people in the Girls’ Division. I have an A to Z of all my retirement plans starting with A for allotment!

As an Old Girl, I couldn’t have been more ecstatic to come back to Bolton School as a teacher and could only hope that I would enjoy it as much as I did as a pupil. So what have I enjoyed most about Bolton School the second time around? Firstly, I have had a whale of time working with a department that can only be described as bonkers. I have thoroughly enjoyed running the Middle School drama clubs and helping with the Oliver production; all of the girls involved have worked so hard and some hilarious memories were formed in the theatre this year! But more than anything else, I have enjoyed working with those of you who love to learn. This is a wonderful school; not just because of the beautiful buildings, staff and facilities on offer, but because the pupils make every day a pleasure.

My year here at Bolton School has fl own by. I have been lucky enough to experience the wide range of events and opportunities the school offers and enjoyed being part of the community. The school is full of character, as are the girls! I have never failed to be impressed by their enthusiasm for learning, care in their work and the wealth of ideas which they bring to lessons. I have loved sharing my subject with them and hearing their confi dent insights, so often presented with a sense of humour. I hope they have enjoyed our lessons half as much I have.’