Valete

Atis Amaglo

By Henry Eriksson

Atis joined us as our Head of trength and Conditioning in September 2021, having worked for Cornwall High Performance, Exeter Chiefs Academy and Truro College. Despite Atis only having worked at King's for less than a year, the impact he has made has been huge and both staff, pupils and parents alike will be sad to see him leave. Atis has been a fantastic coach, colleague and mentor this year.

He brings a calmness and professionalism to the department, and he has undoubtedly taken our Athletic Development Programme forward this year. Most notably, the relationship and partnership Atis has developed with the world renowned ‘Speedworks’ programme is a legacy that he will leave behind and should be proud of. Not only has Atis been an outstanding role model in the gym and on the rugby pitch, but he has made a significant contribution to school life in general, and I know the open, honest and brave way he spoke to the School about his experiences with discrimination and racism was a moment which had an impact upon us all.

Whilst we are all sad to see Atis leave King's, the opportunity he has been given is too good to miss. He is returning to his native Cornwall to run a gym of his own, as part of Cornwall High Performance, as well as continuing the exciting work he has been doing on ACL rehabilitation. I know that I speak on behalf of the whole King's community, when I say good luck, and that we wish you every success in your exciting new venture.

Kirsty Fear

By Kate Flavell

Kirsty started King's in September 2017 as a GCSE Science Teacher and Resident Tutor in Priory. On a personal note, it was so lovely welcoming back a past Wellesley 6th Former to King's, and it didn’t take long for her to fit in perfectly with the teaching side of the School.

As soon as Kirsty joined the Science Department, she brought with her enthusiasm, positivity and fresh ideas. Before long we had Biology board games being devised, guinea pigs introduced, and David Attenborough style documentaries being filmed. Kirsty really gave her Science teaching her all, and I know the younger years greatly appreciated her time, energy, and dedication she put into her lessons. The hand painted ‘organ system aprons’ are still on display in the Biology Department - a mark of her creativity which she has left for teachers to use in years to come. teaching and organisational skills to be recognised, and soon she took on the role of Head of Psychology. She changed the way the subject was being delivered dramatically - with brain dissections and ‘egg nurturing’ - and the uptake of the subject by pupils reached a record high. Before long she was having to cut down her Science hours, as she had two classes in both the U6th and L6th years, which was unheard of for the subject - this speaks volumes about the impact she had on the School curriculum and the pupils.

As a Resident Tutor and Acting Housemistress, Kirsty was a natural and the Priory girls loved having her play such active roles within the House. Kirsty’s empathy, compassion and energy left a lasting impression on her tutees and all within the Priory community. Kirsty was a huge support to Emily and the rest of the staff and pupils in Priory and she has been greatly missed by them all.

Kirsty left King's in December 2021 to take on a new role at Richard Huish School, it has been brilliant to hear how well she has been getting on there - the pupils and staff are lucky to have her. A huge thank you to Kirsty for all that she has done for King's, whether it be in the classroom, on the sports pitches, amongst the School community or in Priory House. Kirsty has left a legacy here, that is for sure.

Inmaculada Gea-Neff

By Ana Fonolla-Rodriguez

Señorita Gea-Neff (or Inma, for us), is leaving after two years of being part of the King's family. The first thing that impressed me when I started working with her, was the great achievement of training the whole school to pronounce her surname with proper Spanish pronunciation in less than a year, not necessarily an easy task!

Inma started her adventure in King's at a crucial moment for the MFL Department, taking the weight of the Spanish Department on her shoulders and teaching the subject from 3rd Form to U6th. Her lessons are characterised by the high standards she sets. In conjunction with her firm but fair approach, this has resulted in pupils across all year groups leaving with a smile on their face and a cheerful ‘Gracias, señorita. ¡Adios!’. However, Inma’s duty of promoting love for Spanish goes beyond the classroom, as she teaches the wonders of Hispanic cookery in her popular afternoon club, where pupils have created the most mouth-watering dishes!

Inma has also been a tutor in Priory, and I have witnessed the great relationships that she has built with the girls, as is obvious from the laughter coming from the office and the chats with them in her duty nights in House.

I must admit that, when it comes to talking about Inma, I am without a doubt biased, as she has been like another mentor for me in my first year in King's. I will deeply miss our chats, our jokes and having her as a, sometimes what feels like infinite, source of advice. However, it is time for a new adventure, and we wish her the very best of luck in her new teaching role in Salisbury.

Now, it is our turn to say: ¡Gracias, señorita! Thank you.

Mike Keogh

By Nick Bunday

A man of infinite patience, a man of infinite good humour and a man of many jobs, Michael (Mike) arrived at King's in 2015 as short notice cover in the English Department and never left. Mike was adept at taking on additional roles owing to his flexibility and desire to do the very best that he could for the pupils. He soon became the School Librarian, ran the 6th Form Club, organised travel for the pupils, assisted in the EAL Department, taught assistive technology on behalf of the LS Department and a loyal Tutor in Lyon House. All these roles required a great deal of time and initiative, which Mike was always happy to contribute in spades.

As Librarian, Mike oversaw the move to the Hobhouse Block which required the thinning down of the stock to squeeze into a significantly smaller space. As Librarian, Mike also oversaw the junior members of the School who, for whatever reason, had a gap in their timetable and used the library to work in. His caring persona meant that he often picked up on issues in that forum and was able to alert House staff. Running the 6th Form Club meant that during term time Mike gave up every Friday and Saturday evening allowing the 6th Form a safe space in which to let their hair down. Perhaps Mike’s main task, however, was the organising and liaising with pupils, parents, and House staff over the travel requirements. Exeats, half terms and end of terms saw Mike produce a gargantuan spreadsheet to coordinate the many different requirements as pupils bomb-burst not just all over the country but all over the globe. It was always a plan of many moving parts, and many are the times when Mike himself has picked up minibus keys and headed to pick up stranded pupils who have been let down by taxis or delayed by airlines. As a tutor in Lyon House, he was always quick to support his tutees with praise or empathetically pointing out the error of their ways and getting them to understand other perspectives.

Out of school, Mike has been a fine ambassador for King's. He took on regular shifts on the Samaritan phone lines in Yeovil and would occasionally say when asked, very modestly, that he had ‘saved someone’s life’ - and there are not many of us who can claim that! He also sat as the Buddhist Representative on the Somerset Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education. As a Religious Education and Philosophy teacher he also helped local RE teachers with in-service training. During Covid, Mike did a huge amount for the local community and galvanised many staff members to assist with grocery deliveries to the old and infirm.

What I will remember the most, is Mike’s great capacity to laugh (often at his own expense) and his unselfish giving of his own time to the cause of making the pupil’s King's experience the very best that it could be. Kindness and humour were always in abundance with Mike. To say that he will be missed is a cliché, but it is a phrase that has never been more applicable than when used in reference to Mike. The number of roles that he has filled throughout the School will take a great deal of filling, but his larger than life persona and his readiness to laugh will be irreplaceable. We wish Mike well as he heads east towards his family in Brighton, where

he hopes to return to his first love of teaching RE and Philosophy. His many friends at King's, amongst whom I am proud to be numbered, hope that it will not be too long before he returns to visit those of us saddened that we will no longer have Mike around to cheer up the darkest of days. Good luck Mike!

Annie Miles

By Emily McMunn

Annie has been a valued member of the Food team, and she also makes incredible contributions to the School through Ten Tors and CCF. I have only had the pleasure of working with Annie since September, but her enthusiasm and hard work has been noticeable from day one. Without knowing it, she makes everyone’s day just a little bit more manageable and has an amazing rapport with the pupils. She always comes to school with a smile and has boundless energy. She is diligent, organised and always looking for ways in which she can help, especially during busy times and during Hospitality events.

Annie’s expertise in sport, through management roles at Wincanton Leisure Centre, has been utilised in CCF, with trips sailing and training pupils. She is always willing to go the extra mile and has been an integral part of this programme. I’m sure her fellow CCF and Ten Tors colleagues will miss her as much as we will. It is these qualities that will make her such a good teacher. Much as we are very sad to see her go, we know that she is destined for greater things as she embarks on Teacher Training with Bath Spa. We have known for a long time that she wants to teach and is a natural with pupils and they respect her opinions and experience.

Ultimately Annie is a kind soul who is always thinking of others and is selfless in her contribution to the School and the food department. As a team, we would like to wish Annie lots of luck and best wishes for the future as we know she will throw her all into her studies and become a fantastic teacher.

Alan Parks

By Kirsty Moran

Mr Parks joined King's in 2020, taking up the post of Head of Mathematics, having previously been Head of A Level Mathematics in Berkshire. He gained his first-class Honours degree from Reading University, giving him excellent subject knowledge to take forward into teaching and subsequently achieved his PGCE with Distinction.

Alan quickly became immersed in school life, fulfilling the role of House tutor in New House and volunteering with CCF, trying out both Royal Navy and Army sections, finally deciding that he preferred the green uniform to the blue uniform. This was over and above his sports commitments, which Alan used to strengthen his working relationships with pupils. When asked about what they will take from having Mr Parks as their teacher, pupils have consistently commented on the manner in which he has made mathematics ‘real life’, highlighting the importance of numerical skills in the wider world. Above all his sense of humour has prevailed.

His department team have emphasised his positive leadership and communication skills with regular departmental meetings, featuring an ever-changing variety and supply of cakes and biscuits to keep up the morale of the team. Alan cares about pupils and staff alike, always checking in on those who he knows are having issues, lending a listening ear, if needed. This is also reflected through his work with the Samaritans, where he has now become a qualified ‘listener’.

He will be remembered for his sharp dressing, positive outlook, on topic witticisms and his drive to guide pupils to discover the wonders of mathematics. Alan is passionate about inspiring more girls to take up mathematics at A Level. We wish him well and every success in his new appointment at Hayesfield Girls School and Mixed Sixth Form.

Chris White

By Nick Bunday

Chris White returned to King's in 2020 after an absence of four years, to take up the post of Head of Cricket and Deputy Head of Hockey, as well as taking on the role of Resident Tutor in Blackford House.

As a pupil at King's, Chris was ‘Mr Sport’ representing the School 1st XI in hockey and cricket, both for an impressive four years. He was in the first King's team to get through to the national outdoor hockey finals in 2014, where they came an impressive fourth in the country. Following his time at King's and a short stint working with Jack Cropper, an erstwhile hockey coach at King's, Chris headed off to New Zealand to play alongside those Kiwis that had spent a season at King's and living in Blackford, namely Matt Lake, Josh Meates, Peter McGregor and George Baker. Whilst in New Zealand, he played league hockey for the Maorists, and coached at St Bede’s School where King's already had a firm link. On his return to this country, Chris returned to work at Stamford until 2020.

Whilst working as Head of Cricket at King's, Chris has coached and organised several seasons during which time the School played their first full, competitive girls’ cricket fixture (which they won) against Sherborne Girls’ School. As an inspirational hockey coach, Chris has spent much of the competitive seasons coaching the U14A teams (both boys and girls) helping their transition from seven to eleven a side hockey. Chris has been a superb Resident Tutor in Blackford. His easy manner with the boys has meant that he had their respect from the very start, and it only grew the longer he was here. Having been through what they were going through, Chris was able to empathise and lead them through many potential issues. It is also worthy of note, however, that Chris has a welltuned antenna and is quick to offer the House staff assistance when the many pinch points occur. Generous with his time, and good company, Chris did much to ensure that Blackford ran with the minimum of fuss, filling in many gaps with no complaint.

With Chris back at King's, it was perhaps predictable that another former Head of Hockey at King's, Ben Dudley, should encourage him to play for the league team that he was coaching, namely Bristol University. This year they won promotion from National West Conference League to National Division 1, in no small part down to Chris’s contribution. As much as Chris loved his job, it was also clear that he relished playing competitively once again.

Chris is a fanatical skier who has experience of the slopes all over the world. The one experience in his portfolio that is missing, however, is Japan. When the opportunity to do a prestigious instructor’s course came up that would enable him to continue working in the Niseko Resort, it was an easy decision for him to make.

The disappointment of losing Chris is made a great deal easier to bear by his excitement at this new opportunity. Whilst it takes him away from the sports he loves, it will enable him to have a wonderful experience in Japan, and therefore, we can only wish him bon voyage and remind him not to become a stranger to King's. Chris, thank you for the time, energy and initiative that you have invested in Blackford, in cricket and hockey. Thank you also for your friendship and support over the past two years in Blackford.