My time at Churcher’s: Jean Millard

My time at Churcher’s

Jean Millard (1987 - 2020)

It is Thursday, December 17th 2020. My last day had started and I am with the Headmaster to bid farewell.

On his desk sits an iconic, shiny Churcher’s College mug along with its accompanying sharp pencil. The traditional, highly coveted and essential piece of departing kit. I knew my time was up!

At the end of that school day, I would drive out through the College gates after 33 years of teaching, but not before the Science Faculty had treated me to a wonderful lunch. In these historic COVID times, we kept our 2 metre distance in one of the large labs. The table was decorated with conical flasks encasing beautiful fairy lights. The scene was set and it was an emotional and special occasion. Speeches were made and goodbyes shared.

I first drove in through those gates, way back in September 1987. Rick Astley was No. 1 in the pop charts and mobile phones and the Internet were pure fantasy. I moved from having taught in a large state school to what was, at the time, a smaller boys’ independent school with a mixture of boarding and day pupils. I joined but three fulltime female staff and together we had to tolerate (respectfully) the traditions of the Masters’ Common Room. It was a somewhat dingy, ‘fuggy’ room with burgeoning pigeon-holes, dark musty curtains draping the full length of the walls and a long wooden table bearing full ashtrays. The masters donned chalk-covered academic gowns and I was in awe. I won’t mention the state of the toilets! How times have changed… for the better, I hasten to add…

Staff briefing was held every morning at 8.25am. All of us gathered in the Common Room, paper notepads at the ready. Tutors jotted down relevant notices, called out in a haphazard and random order. I remember a time, somewhat early in my initiation, a senior member of staff proclaiming: “Masters! Note this for your boys.” My pen was poised ready to write furiously. To my horror a female colleague placed her firm hand on mine, beckoning me to halt! She caught the eye of the announcer, and there was silence. She perked up with: “Should this be noted by the female members of staff, too?”. The ‘vintage’ member of staff puffed up and spoke: “Hmm… Masters and MISTRESSES (he boomed) note this…”I just wanted the ground to open up. I surely was not to be called a MISTRESS! My first and foremost passion was inspiring pupils in the subject of Biology, fulfilling the dream my own biology teacher inspired me to follow all those years ago.

I soon became Head of Lifeskills, as it was called back then, and designed a brand-new curriculum to be delivered by form tutors. The user-friendly books and activities I devised were the start of something new and the college was well on the path to becoming a fully co-educational day school.

I coached and umpired boys’ hockey and have many fond memories of the tours. The Guernsey jaunts were a particular highlight, and I’ll never forget taking an U15 squad to Leicester and meals of endless curries! I was even allowed to participate in the annual Masters vs Boys hockey match. Our boots were polished by a first-year pupil ready for the onslaught, Monty Python style!

The residential biology field trips to Juniper Hall were held every summer. Driving along the narrow lanes had its moments. I have to admit a low point was when I pranged a minibus, fortunately hired, into another minibus, unfortunately College owned, and then proceeded to scrape the wing mirror along its entire length! Which idiot parked it there, anyway?

“Every single day teaching at the school has brought me joy.”

Back in those distant days, the Science Faculty was dispersed across the campus. The Biology and Chemistry labs were where the ART/IT block is now, and Physics was a little walk away where the new library is. I taught in Lab 63. There were three huge fixed wooden tables with sinks and gas taps with enough space for 18 boys. The cupboards were filled with many pickled animals (at least I think they were animals) and I even found a box of deer heads. These were soon re-instated into the hall of the junior boarding house, Mount House, much to the delight of the housemaster.

In time, I was promoted to Head of Biology and then Head of Science. The faculty continued to thrive and grow. I had the enormous privilege of overseeing the build of the new science block and when the number of A Level scientists increased we were fortunate to be able to have yet another floor added. The facilities are second to none.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking the Fifth Year under my wing as their Pastoral Co-ordinator. It was important for the pupils to have a base and so the pavilion was refurbished for the pupils to use as their common room. I established the Annual Dinner and Awards Evening which was a celebration of their time in school before many returned as our Sixth Form. When I became part of the Senior Management Team I was very proud to work amongst such a dynamic bunch having the opportunity to contribute to and cast my beady eye over the whole school ethos. I organised events such as Speech Day and Lower School Prize Giving. For two years I ensured the school arrived en-masse to Guildford Cathedral for the Carol Service. This was a major logistical endeavour but an impressive day, and I recall opening the doors at the end of the service and gasping as before me snow was falling thick and fast. An appropriate end to term with a great view from the city’s majestic cathedral. What an occasion.

When I told my fabulous GCSE class that I was leaving the clutches of Churcher’s their jaws dropped and when they found out how long I’d been at the school, one pupil exclaimed “33 years! Miss, that’s insane!”

I guess that’s true…

But if being ‘insane’ meant I remained at Churcher’s then so be it. Every single day teaching at the school has brought me joy. Certainly, in the lead up to my last day at school I started to think about how much the College had altered and developed. The school has changed and progressed in a direction that is sought after by parents far afield and from the very start of my time here I have been delighted with the developments and opportunities. The Churcher’s community has never let me down both professionally and personally. I am sure you can understand that the decision to finally stop was a seriously difficult one to make. I know that after these unique and historical times, one thing will stand firm, and that is Churcher’s College, it’s team and its pupils past and present.

Finally, and before you all ask – NO! The cup and pencil will not be made available on eBay for bidding!

“Never gonna give you them up...”