ALUMNA OF THE YEAR

Taking time out from her busy GP practice in North London, Dr Ellie Cannon arrives at the GDST’s offices ready to talk about almost anything. From her journey from Central Newcastle High School to her career today – as an NHS GP, TV doctor and columnist for the Mail on Sunday –to winning science competitions, baking cakes and personal boundaries, almost nothing is off limits. Except for football.

Dr Ellie radiates positive energy. She’s a natural communicator, and it’s easy to see how she’d be equally at home in the TV studio as with her patients. As the child of an obstetrician, who grew up following her father around on call, Ellie says she always knew she was destined to be a doctor.

She remembers how Central Newcastle nurtured her ambition, ensuring that all her academic and volunteering endeavours worked towards a successful application to medical school. But more than this, she says, “I think there was an inherent expectation at school that we would achieve, whether in the sciences or other disciplines. I find it interesting, now, that I was encouraged to be a woman in STEM before there was any sort of ‘campaign’ about it.

“One of my school highlights was in Sixth Form, when Dr Coapes, my chemistry teacher, entered us into Science Olympiads and the British Academy of Science National Competition, which we won. I never thought twice about it at the time, but I don’t think anyone ever said to me, ‘how amazing that as an allgirls’ school you beat an all-boys’ school’. We were just celebrated as winners, and that was incredibly empowering.”

Studying medicine at University of Cambridge, Ellie thought she was headed for paediatrics or gastroenterology. “I don’t think I expected to be a GP,” she says, but a bit of “serendipity and taking opportunities” shaped her personal life and in turn, influenced the medical path she chose. “I always say to people to go with your gut and explore different things. If there’s something that you absolutely love, then that is what you should do. I think as I progressed in medicine it became clear that I am a people person. I love being with children, and I’m somebody who’s delighted by people’s lives and stories; so instead of going into some ‘highbrow’ area of medicine, general practice felt like the right speciality for me.”

With her career as an NHS GP established, Ellie continues, “In terms of the media career and public health side of things, opportunities have arisen out of nowhere. The first request for a quote for a national newspaper came from somebody I had met at a Christmas party. This turned into writing, which led to being asked to commentate, and then a patient who worked in television asked if I would consider doing TV. As with many careers, if you make yourself available and affable, and you're a good advocate, then you get asked to do it again.”

This doesn’t happen to everyone, though, so why did it happen to Ellie? She considers for a moment, “I think I've been good at embracing opportunity. Opportunities do not always come at the right time: and my writing opportunities came when I had very small children and was permanently exhausted. But I was aware that the opportunity might not come again.”

Ellie continues to juggle the different facets of her life. “Yes, there’s always a juggle,” she laughs. “And I think one of the reasons I have succeeded in the different things that I do is because I am prepared to let certain balls drop. I don't feel that as well as being a mum and a doctor and a writer, I also need be the great homemaker or the baker of wonderful birthday cakes. Although I do make quite good birthday cakes!”

She makes it all sound easy. But underneath, Ellie is very clear about boundaries and where she draws the line. She’s happy to talk medicine to anyone at any time, saying, “I’ve never minded people asking me medical questions, and I think that’s why I’ve ended up having a career where I explain medicine to nonmedical people.”

But, there are some no-go areas. She explains, “I have lived through certain health problems with my own family and it is difficult to talk about some of those because I'm scared that I will give too much of myself and offer an overly subjective opinion rather an objective one.

“And there are areas of science and health where the alternative or conspiratorial view has become so ingrained that to involve yourself in a TV debate, for example, really does nobody any favours.

“I don't shy away from the more controversial topics, but I do shy away from controversy, so I'm not going to speak about something that is scientific and factual in a debate situation.” She cites vaccinations as an example, “In the way TV is formatted now, they will invite a doctor alongside someone who is anti-vax, for balance. Personally, I don’t think that is balance, because you can’t balance a huge scientific evidence base with a YouTube video.

“And I won’t talk about things I don’t feel expert in; for example, the line where my medical expertise blurs with, say, psychology. To illustrate, I’ve been asked to talk about grief on television, and have always refused because that’s not my expertise. As a doctor, I should stick to what I know.

“To a bigger point, there’s a huge amount of pseudo health information out there now, with influencers, noise and nonsense. It's very hard for the public to see the difference between somebody like myself - a qualified doctor working in a clinic three days a week - and somebody calling themself a ‘health expert’ on Instagram. How would anybody know the difference? The only way to show people the difference is to have real doctors out there - genuine experts talking from a place of expertise.

And what about football? She smiles, “I used to do a piece on Sky News with Eamonn Holmes. During the Euros a few years ago, he asked on air if I was watching the tournament. I thought it would sound pompous if I said I wasn’t watching, but if I said I was, he’d ask another question which I wouldn’t be able to answer. It was a terrifying moment. So for me, football is a nogo. Forever."

@Dr_Ellie

Norwich High School for Girls

Norwich High Prep School has overseen an exciting new development, with the transformation of a space in Stafford House into a brand new Food Technology room and refurbished STEM lab.

The development is a direct result of a questionnaire sent to the school community by the Head of Norwich High School for Girls, Alison Sefton, which revealed that the addition of a food technology space would be welcomed amongst pupils and parents.

The Prep School has run popular cookery clubs for several years, and this new space means food technology can now run as a lesson alongside STEM, art and coding for Years 5 and 6.

Susan Roberts, Head of Norwich High Prep School and Nursery, said, “We are passionate about equipping our students to be the best they can be and learn without limits. The new Food Technology room and updated STEM lab are brilliant additions to our site.”

Northampton High School

Northampton High School is delighted to have been awarded the prestigious eco EduCCate Bronze Award – the first of the GDST’s schools to achieve this.

Designed to help build schools’ confidence and capacity to deliver climate change education, the Award recognises the comprehensive work of the school’s Eco Team, led by James Earp and including staff and students. The tasks and challenges undertaken by the Team include bespoke teaching modules on the wide-ranging impacts of climate change including an examination of the unequal impact of climate change on women, and activities such as the Carbon Buster Challenges and using Energy Sparks data to help reduce the school’s carbon footprint.

Head, Dr May Lee, said, “We are so proud of our Eco Team’s hard work, raising awareness amongst pupils and making our school more environmentally friendly. At Northampton High, we are bold and fearless in cultivating eco-champions and warriors to make a real difference.”

Northwood College for Girls

This year has seen Northwood College celebrating 130 years of educating girls. Students and staff alike marked the occasion with a day of activities, kicked off with an exercise ‘drill’ (which most schools used to start the day with, in the late 1900s). Later, girls used precious materials from the archive department to bring the heritage of the school to life in 130-themed lessons. All enjoyed a nostalgic picnic lunch, and the school’s recently opened Alvarium building was decorated with bunting that the girls designed.

Head, Mrs Rebecca Brown, said, “Our founding school motto was ‘Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life’ and our founder, Catherine Buchan-Smith, was clear in articulating her belief that nurturing a student’s moral compass was central to educational excellence. I am therefore delighted to announce that the main way we will be celebrating our 130year milestone will be with a school-wide focus on service to others and community engagement.

“I know that our girls will enjoy using their talents to create a positive impact on the Northwood community and am sure that this will kindle a passion for volunteering that will last a lifetime.”

Putney High School

Putney High School has expanded its Breathe environmental programme by appointing an Ecologist in Residence. This is the latest in the school’s residency series which has previously included a Writer, Poet, Musician and Entrepreneur.

Dr Helen Miller is helping to take the biophilic classroom project to the next level, developing a programme that will last beyond her residency, ensuring not only current but also future students are motivated to increase their knowledge and expertise of ecology.

Dr Miller is working with pupils of all ages on a range of projects, including biodiversity challenges and a focused study of bats on Putney grounds. The initiative is supporting the curriculum as well as engaging pupils in the natural world all around them.