FAREWELLS AND WELCOMES

A FOND

FAREWELL

Tom Murphy – I first met Tom Murphy in the Autumn Term of 1996. Tom was at that stage the Head of History and Politics at Whitgift and I was a mere history teacher at in my first term here at Caterham.

year later Tom arrived

Aat Caterham as Director of Studies, a position he held for the next 24 years.

Tom was one of the ‘big beasts’ of the independent schools history departments in the country at the time he joined this school - he was an experienced examiner on the old London exam board ‘Syllabus E’ and his word was seen as law by those of us just making our way in the profession. His knowledge of American politics and the breadth of his historical experience was legendary – he was (and is) an academic of great standing and a fantastic teacher. I suspect would have been just as comfortable teaching Modern History at Trinity College, Oxford, as he was teaching GCSE history to a Year 10 class here at Caterham.

Tom’s impact on Caterham has been profound. He joined a school that was just beginning to find its way academically and his addition was a real statement of intent from Headmaster Rob Davey. Under Tom’s guidance, expectations and rigour were heightened and results did not take long to follow. Tom can feel justifiably proud of his legacy – Caterham became an academic school under his academic leadership.

However, there is so much more to Tom than simply intellect and a passion for History and American Politics. Tom is also a great schoolmaster. His journey to Caterham in 1997 was via Bishop’s Stortford College, where he began as a history teacher but also a games coach (Tom is a very skilled games player – squash and cricket in particular), through Wrekin College where, in addition to teaching and running the cricket and squash, he also ran a boarding house and latterly to Whitgift where he ran the History and Politics department so successfully.

Tom is a man of strong passions and, consequently, strong opinions. He loves art, theatre and literature and is never afraid to explain why my love of David Hockney is misplaced. He is a runner, a bridge and chess player. The word polymath is often overused but I think with reference to Tom it is apposite.

Above all else, Tom is an inspiring teacher who knows how to intellectually grab a group of pupils and leave them breathless at the end of a lesson. He sees through faddish ideas and management speak (although rarely in public for which I am grateful) but is always looking to innovate and challenge. Like all good historians (and all good teachers who have spent almost half a century in the profession) he brings a valuable sense of perspective to educational reform and theory – and his voice in meetings is always worth hearing. This voice may at times bring a jarring dissonance to the conversation but is all the more worth listening to as a consequence.

There will be many of you whose lives have been changed by Tom over the past 24 years, and who have gone on to careers in politics or public policy related careers as a result of having been taught by Tom. I suspect there are many teachers, myself included, who have also been influenced by Tom more than perhaps we realise. This is all any of us who do this job can hope for – we come into the profession due to our love of our subject and our desire to change the lives of young people. Tom has done this more than most teachers I have had the good fortune to work with.

Tom Murphy will rightly be remembered as one of the founding fathers of the new Caterham School. He saw an educational project that he believed in and stuck with it for almost a quarter of a century and, in so doing, transformed the fortunes of this school and the lives of a generation of Caterhamians. Legend.

CERI JONES, HEADMASTER

Catherine Clifton

Catherine brought to Caterham her passion and energy for Modern Languages and for the last 23 years has inspired many generations of Old Caterhamians.

he took them out of their

Scomfort zone to learn new languages and as importantly to embrace and understand new and different cultures to, in turn, play a full part in the ever-evolving international scene.

Catherine is such a natural in the classroom, with a career in teaching which followed an initial stint as a tour guide on holiday coaches in the 1980s after graduating with a BA Hons degree in French and German.

Having previously taught in two other independent schools, Catherine joined Caterham School in September 1997 and has helped shape the vibrant, innovative and inspiring German department along with other departments within MFL. Her infectious love for languages, her desire to share her knowledge and experience as well as her great sense of humour have contributed to encourage both naturally talented and more diffident learners to become highly skilled and articulate linguists who are so appreciative for her constant support, encouragement and sensitive approach to teaching.

You only have to walk down the languages corridor with Catherine to realise her teaching range when pupils variously greet her with Guten Tag, Bonjour or Hola and sometimes all three at the same time!

Whether she teaches a beginner’s class the days of the week in a language or a complex 20th century German novel to a sixth form class, she does so with the same drive and gusto, achieving a positive impact and connecting with every learner at his or her own level.

One of Catherine’s other incredible talents, perhaps stemming from her time as a tour guide, is to organise wonderful trips abroad for the pupils. She has always been a great believer that such trips form an essential part of the language learning experience and over the years she has organised or taken part in numerous trips abroad and study visits, latterly leading the newly established and very successful German exchange to Ansbach.

Throughout her years at Caterham, Catherine has not only been an outstanding MFL teacher but also a first-class tutor, tennis coach, trip organiser, hugely committed to promoting excellence in every aspect of her job. Her qualities have inspired many generations of pupils at Caterham who remember her with fondness and affection. She is also hugely valued as a friend and an inspiration by her colleagues.

As Catherine is moving onto the next stage of her life, I hesitate to call it “retirement” as she rarely sits still and is full of new projects and initiatives, whether in education or charity or simply just to make the most of her time to travel as much as possible, one of her other passions in life. I wish her a great time and know how much she will enjoy spending it with her family and friends. So, it is Au revoir for now, knowing that Catherine will keep in touch. Bon Voyage!

farewell

welcome FAREWELL AND WELCOME Bertie Beeching, who joins as a Teacher of English; this is his first teaching post. Lucinda Charlesworth who joins as Special Educational Needs and Disability Co-ordinator (SENDCo) from King’s College School Wimbledon where she held the post of Head of Learning Enrichment. Felicity Dickinson, who joins as Head of Academic PE from Highgate School, where she held a similar post. Dr Ashley Garber, who joins as a Teacher of History and Politics from Alleyn’s School, Dulwich. Andrew Granville, who joins as a Teacher of Maths from Jerudong International School, Brunei. Gabriella Guttner, who joins as Director of Drama from The Lady Eleanor Holles School. Phoebe Jones, who joins as a Teacher of History; this is her first teaching post. Bethany Quinton, who joins as a Teacher of Biology; Bethany is an Old Caterhamian. Harriet Rowling, who joins as Head of German from The Howard of Effingham School. Anne-Fleur Brand (Teacher of Biology) who is undertaking a PHD in Norway. Kate Evans (Teacher of Biology) who is joining Berkhamsted School. Jaclyn Leach (Assistant Director of Sport) who is joining Sedbergh School as Assistant Director of Sport. Gaelle Sullivan (Senior Teacher Pastoral) who has been appointed to Kent College as Deputy Head Pastoral. Lesley Paine (Health Centre Manager) who leaves to spend more time with her family. We also say a fond farewell to: COMMON ROOM NEWS Welcome to the following teachers who joined the Common Room in September 2020: Kitty Tittle, who joins as a Teacher of Psychology; this is Kitty’s first school teaching post. Sally Wallis, who joins the Senior School as a Teacher of Biology from Caterham Prep School where she held the post of Head of Science.