Valete

Neil Walker Deputy Head

Neil Walker joined the school in 2014 and although he has been a constant presence at numerous concerts, Parents Evenings’ and PPTA meetings ever since, much of his work remains unseen - within the policies and documents related to compliance, within the reports to ISC, within school performance data or related to his work as designated safeguarding lead or in tackling Health and Safety concerns in school. To all of these he has brought his meticulous attention to detail and his sound common sense.

In addition to his responsibilities as Deputy Head Neil has also taught both Science and Psychology in his time at Pipers as well as leading regular, thoughtful assemblies. He can be relied on at all times to give a sensible and considered opinion and he enjoys discussing both educational theory and its real implications for learning and young people. As often falls to the Deputy Head in any school, Neil has had to have difficult conversations, on occasions, with staff or parents and occasionally outside agencies, and yet whatever the situation, the complexities of the issue or the emotions of the moment, he can always be relied on to remain calm, reflective and eminently polite. These qualities will no doubt stand him in good stead as he moves to Newcastle to take on the Headship of Westfield School - an independent girls’ school for 350 students aged 3-18. We wish him well in his new role and in his move further north to be nearer family and we thank him for all he has done for Pipers over the last three years.

Jeremy Carey Head of Design Technology

Jeremy Carey joined Pipers initially in 2010 in a temporary role before returning in September 2012 when he became our permanent Head of Design Technology, having impressed us so much previously. Jeremy immediately injected creativity and imagination into the Department, raising its profile considerably. All of a sudden the school was overflowing with innovative design projects completed by the girls, filling display cabinets and windowsills where ever one turned. Jeremy also pioneered the use of various new techniques in design, bringing in a 3-D printer and laser cutter to enhance the practical work of his students across all levels. Jeremy’s contribution to Pipers has not been limited to the classroom. He will also be remembered for his significant design skills, particularly shown through his work with the Performing Arts teams to design and make set and props for several of the recent school productions. His designs for many of the costumes and all of the set for “The Lion King” were particularly stunning and innovative - whilst also being highly practical and surviving several performances. Jeremy has tackled even the most impossible of challenges with his characteristic determination, enthusiasm and thorough approach to detail.

Jeremy has also been the member of the teaching staff most likely to be found in school during holidays - either redesigning his studio, constructing a complex piece of scenery or possibly tinkering with his own projects, including his much loved boat. It was inevitable that we were going to lose him to somewhere closer to the sea and we wish him well with his new business venture in the South West.

Lisa Cookson Head of Psychology

Lisa Cookson joined the school as a part-time Psychology teacher in 2007 and the subject soon developed in popularity and the number of A Level classes in both Lower and Upper Sixth greatly increased. Lisa expects her students to work hard and would always challenge them with extra material. Her marking pile seemed endless with extra essays being submitted in order for students to achieve elusive top marks! Her passion for her subject has been transferred to many of her pupils and she has an excellent record of students achieving the highest grades and continuing their study of Psychology at university. As Lisa became a full time member of staff she expanded her role into the delivery of Careers in the school. She has been responsible for developing the Alumnae speaker series, and organised the school’s first Careers’ Fair. As a Sixth Form Tutor, Lisa has worked tirelessly with students to help them understand the requirements of their chosen career path; she has arranged numerous work experience placements, ensured personal statements had depth and academic rigour and helped students to make difficult decisions regarding final choices of university. During her final year of teaching Lisa has been studying for her RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture. It has been interesting to discuss how she has used the revision strategies she has taught students to use for her own examinations, and how she has dealt with exam nerves! Past papers, past papers and more past papers…leads eventually to practice makes perfect. Lisa leaves Pipers to start her own gardening business. We wish her every success in her new venture and hope the sun shines often!

Alison Robinson Head of Mathematics

Alison Robinson joined Pipers as Head of Mathematics in September 2014 and in her time at Pipers she has brought a change to the perception of Mathematics as a hard subject to one that girls are enthusiastic about and have an “I can do this” attitude. She has developed a happy, cohesive Department where teachers have been developed and enabled to progress to promotions. Many girls have been successful in Mathematical competitions and it is very common now to see girls out and about around school taking part in active maths.

In addition to her Head of Department duties Alison took on the role of Form Tutor when she arrived at Pipers and in September 2016 she was appointed Head of Year 9. Throughout this year she has led the Tutor team with a calm, purposeful manner and the girls have been supported and encouraged to rise to the challenge of tackling the harder work in their chosen subjects so they are fully prepared for their GCSE courses next year. Many of the girls have actively sought out Mrs Robinson for her advice and support throughout this year. Alison also has a love of hockey and she has been very enthusiastic in helping to run the U13 Hockey team this year. The girls have really enjoyed seeing their teachers outside the classroom and the passion of their coaches has inspired some real commitment from the girls. We wish Alison every success in her new role and all the very best for the future.

Fitz Smith Second in English

I fingered the pile with trepidation and placed the American application at the bottom, fearing misplaced desperation and hopeless incongruity: time in California, slow backwaters of Kentucky, evenings no doubt of jazz and bourbon night air, years of swept Midwest emptiness: all a long way from the gift shop world of our delicate national treasures. But paper-clipped to doctoral studies were pages of student testimonials. They glowed. Discarding the interview timetable, we walked out across the lawns towards the wildflower meadow. A chuckling anecdote on Fitzgerald, another on a critic of Fitzgerald, and then a third on the man who once served Fitzgerald in a diner’s cousin, were embroidered by stanzas intoned with chuckling reverence –probably Yeats. In minutes we discovered Joyce’s raking of the soil, burdocks of Hardy, tiny orchids of Parker, James’s unfortunate convolvulus, and overriding all, a fresh breeze: “I want to leave university teaching to be able to get to know students.” And so an old Toyota Corolla spluttered in, pigeon poop splattered faded paint and rusty doors, and out stepped a burning concordance of the beauty of English Literature. Three years later. Lunchtime, and a queue of Year 8s agog at the Office Door. “Is Dr Smith in? … “Oh, Dr Smith, last night ….” The Upper Sixth English group is camped out on the Office floor. A member begins: “I’ve always wondered about …”. Pause. Dr Smith leans forward, tousle haired and corduroyed, perched on the rickety printer table, legs hunched up under chin: ... “Tell me … tell me …” And when they are gone, an aside: “Oh that makes me think … right? You know … it’s Homer isn’t it. The entrance of Helen … like cicadas. It’s the effect.

Yes, the effect.

Georgina Van Ot Second in Drama

Georgina Van Ot leaves Pipers Corner School after seven years of teaching Drama and Theatre Studies, specialising in both A Level and GCSE Drama, teaching both devising, set texts and exam preparation. Georgina was also a very popular teacher of LAMDA examinations and gained excellent results for her students across the board at all levels. Georgina was the director of many excellent productions reflecting a diverse range of genres from murder mysteries, to fairy-tales, to her most recent achievement - an excellent interpretation of Stephen Berkoff’s “The Trial” and “Metamorphosis”. This production both challenged and stretched the students understanding of abstract theatre and Berkoff’s distinctive performance style. Georgina was also a dedicated and caring Upper Sixth Form Tutor for a number of years and was always an exceptional support to each and every girl. As an organised and efficient Second in Department Georgina was an asset to the smooth running of the curriculum. Georgina has recently been on maternity leave after the birth of her second son and is embracing the challenges of motherhood with two young boys. Georgina will be greatly missed by the members of her Department and colleagues across the school and we wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.

Pauline Child Reception Teacher

Pauline Child has been a stalwart member of the Pre-Prep team since 1998, firstly taking the PreReception class and then moving into Reception. She will be remembered for her kindness and patience with the girls who have come through her care and also for pioneering the introduction of chick hatching in Pre-Prep. In the first year of trying this, the most valuable lessons the girls learnt were those of patience and disappointment - as none of the eggs hatched. The activity certainly supported the development of resilience! But subsequent years saw many exciting moments as the Pre-Prep community was joined each year by chicks at the end of April. Pauline was responsible for delivering the Early Years Curriculum and for recording the girls’ progress throughout their learning journeys. She had seen various changes in the Pre-Prep Department in her time, both in terms of staffing and curriculum, and had witnessed first-hand the many new learning technologies embraced by the Pre-Prep girls. She was also in the Department when the Forest School curriculum was introduced and when outdoor learning became a natural extension of the skills they were developing within the classroom. We wish Pauline all the best for her future beyond Pipers Corner.

Lily Glypti Teacher of Mathematics

Lily Glypti has been with us for three years and in that time has worked tirelessly on behalf of her students to get the very best out of each one of them. Her firmly held belief that everyone is capable of success in our subject has inspired us all in the Department and has helped us to develop our curriculum with a positive, academic focus whilst being interesting and hopefully enjoyable. She has never settled for the easy way out and always wants students to really understand rather than just regurgitate. Anyone who has been taught by her knows the passion she has for Mathematics and her joy at sharing that enthusiasm. Her students have always performed well in the examinations, after “above and beyond” input from Lily and the lovely letters she has received from them are testament to her dedication.

For us as staff, Lily has been a dynamic member of our team, a good friend to talk to, a forthright personality with the kindest heart and we will miss her presence greatly. We wish her every success in her new role.

Jane Newson Teacher of Science

Jane joined Pipers Corner in September 2007 as a part-time teacher of Physics. She came to us on the recommendation of member of staff who had worked with her previously at Holy Cross School. Her exact words were “If you want a great physics teacher then Jane Newson is the one”. High praise indeed! Jane has certainly lived up to all our expectations and beyond! She has a way of making physics “easy” and thereby accessible to all her teaching sets. Jane has also been one of the most professional members of staff you could asked for. She always looks for the positive in every situation and the Science Department have valued her clarity of thought so many times when encountering a challenge. She has arranged many talks from visiting speakers on her beloved subject of Physics, along with taking the girls to lectures on interesting Physics related topics. As a Sixth Form Tutor she has been kind and generous of her time with her tutees, giving them the individual support they need. She is starting an early “retirement” so that she can travel around the world for a year or two with her husband, but has promised us she is not finished with teaching yet as it is her passion. The profession will miss her absence and look forward to her return.

Katie Reid Teacher of Mathematics and PE

Katie Reid bounced in to the Mathematics Department three years ago and has maintained her energy and enthusiasm throughout. Every student taught by Katie can feel truly lucky - she inspires students, but has that dash of realism which helps to reach out to those who may not always share the passion. Katie has been fully behind every initiative tried by the Department, and is always looking for new resources and new ways of teaching. All the students in the school have benefitted from her ideas at some point, as have the other Mathematics teachers. She has also made herself available to help students whenever they have sought it outside of lessons, and this has been greatly appreciated. Katie will be greatly missed by the Pipers community. She has been an excellent Form Tutor and sports coach in hockey, football and rounders, often running fixtures after school, and her sound and sensible approach to life has helped students and staff alike. She knows the character of just about every student in the Senior School and is amazing with learning and remembering names - a real quality. She is very popular amongst the Mathematics Staff and we wish her every success in her new school.

Saima Saif Teacher of Science

Saima joined Pipers Corner in September 1999 as a parttime teacher of Science. She quickly became a popular member of not just the Science Department but also the whole school teaching team. She is known for her wicked sense of humour and her “Carry On“ style laugh which was perfected growing up on a diet of 1970s Carry On films. Her lessons have been about learning but embedded into them has been her comic style which she has used to make Science fun, exciting and relevant to the students she has taught over the years. In the Science Department she is known as our most versatile teacher - adaptable equally in Biology and Physics lessons, alongside her passion for Chemistry. She has, over the years, been a Year 10 and 11 Year co-ordinator putting her pastoral skills to great use. She has organised proms for Year 11s, as well as trips to the Natural History and Science Museums. Her logical mind has been put to the test as a Pipers Timetabler and her legacy will live on as we teach our lessons next academic year according to the timetable she has helped to set up. Saima has been a great friend to all and we will miss her company and friendship along with her fantastic curries at social events. However, she is moving to pastures new and we wish her much success in her new role.

Harmanna van Dalen Teacher of Sociology

Harmanna joined the school as a part-time A Level Sociology teacher in 2010. Harmanna has a keen interest in the current political events in the world and has always encouraged her students to understand the sociological theories and reasons behind any changes. The EU referendum and the American elections fuelled many discussions both in class and in the staffroom. Her explanation regarding Donald Trump’s appointment was most insightful. The girls she has taught have progressed onto a variety of degree courses; many having links with sociological ideas such as Social Care, Counselling, Education Studies and Teaching. Harmanna has encouraged the next generation of Sociology students by running weekly discussion sessions for girls in Year 10 and 11 in order that they have a clear understanding of what the A Level entails and the knowledge they develop has proved most useful in debating issues in other lessons. As well as teaching Sociology, Harmanna is known for making her own jewellery and has regularly been seen selling her wares at the Pipers Christmas Fair. At the end of the school year, Harmanna is relocating to Nottinghamshire and we wish her all the very best for the future.

Becky Brudenell Pre-Prep Teaching Assistant

Becky Brudenell first joined Pipers as a part-time PrePrep Teaching Assistant in 2007 and again in 2012 after a spell abroad. She has been both a parent and a member of staff at Pipers and a constant and reassuring presence for the girls in the Department. She has supported the girls in their many activities in Pre-Prep and has been proud of their achievements in so many areas. We wish Becky well as she leaves Pipers for the second time and hope that she will enjoy having more time to devote to her family and her interests beyond education.

Charlotte Cairns PE Assistant/ Lifeguard

Charlotte Cairns joined the PE Department in 2015 and her energy, motivation and good humour made her an instantly valuable member of the team. Charlotte has been a fantastic lifeguard in all swimming lessons from Reception to Year 10, as well as for swimming clubs and evening swimming sessions. For the three years she has worked at Pipers Charlotte has demonstrated outstanding organisational skills to assist all staff in PE with the busy day-to-day running of the Department. She has had fantastic and positive relationships with all pupils, being described as “smiley, approachable, bubbly and funny”. Charlotte has been a member of staff who has gone “above and beyond” for both staff and pupils and we wish her all the very best for the future.

Eve Wagstaff Teaching Assistant

Evie has been a real asset to Pipers since joining in 2015. Not only has she been a Teaching Assistant in Pre-Prep, Prep and Individual Learning, but she has thrown herself into numerous other areas of school life. She frequently accompanies school trips, residential activities and sporting fixtures, and has supervised the Prep girls in After School Prep. Since arriving she has shown how adaptable she is, from taking numeracy catch-up lessons to making shelters in Forest School. She has a fabulous relationship with the girls and staff and is always willing to help out at a moment’s notice. Although we will miss her greatly we are delighted that she is pursuing her dream of becoming a PE Teacher and wish her all the best for the future.