EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST
EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH
Mrs. Jane Lunnon Mrs. Jane Lunnon, first female headmistress of Alleyn’s School, Dulwich, talks about her experience as a headteacher and their global approach to learning
We were thrilled to be able to speak to Mrs. Jane Lunnon, Headmistress at Alleyn’s School, to discuss their inspiring learning environment, recognition of global affairs including gender equality, Everyone’s Invited and BLM - their active connections with local schools, and to hear how they are embracing life post the pandemic. How do you feel a year on into your role?
I feel even more energised if that’s possible. It’s just such a huge joy to run this school, it really is an honour. What makes it joyful is the unending surprise of our brilliant children. They are all so gifted and they all wear those gifts so lightly. They are so supportive of each other and fun. It’s just impossible not to feel inspired in the school. We are a connected community as staff and pupils, and it is a total joy. The lovely thing is, not that you would say this when inspectors call, is that, the inspectors came last term and they said that with bells on, they saw what we see every day. They are incredibly impressive young people doing their thing brilliantly. It is a virtuous circle of inspiration. They inspire us to further inspire them. TURN TO P40 to read about addressing anxiety in young children (related to events in the Ukraine)
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You are also the first female head - how did this make you feel?
I’m standing on the shoulders of giants in terms of the incredible predecessors in retrospect. It’s funny, lots of people have asked me how it feels to be the first female head. I guess, being female doesn’t and won’t characterise my headship, but having said that, I am more aware of what a privilege it is to do this job now that I have taken it on. Being the first to do anything is always an amazing opportunity, but I don’t want people to say: Oh, Jane Lunnon, she was a great female head. I want them to say that she was a great head and she did all these lovely, amazing things in this great school. The issue is not about gender, really. It’s about our ideas and how we move into the future together. Our school was founded on possibility, it was founded on ideas, it was founded on this amazing Jacobean player named Alleyn who decided:
“The issue is not about gender, really. It’s about our ideas and how we move into the future together.”
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