What is your role at Blackheath High School?

Assistant Head and Head of Sixth Form.

How long have you been teaching for? 

I have been teaching for thirty years. The first 10 years of my career were as a Montessori teacher in a local nursery school. Following my training as a Languages secondary school teacher in 2004, I taught in a mixed comprehensive school in Lewisham for 10 years and then a large grammar school for girls for the past 10 years, where I was Head of Sixth Form.

Why Blackheath High School? What sets the school apart from other schools? 

What really stands out is the school’s commitment to nurturing students’ ambition and supporting them in developing the confidence and self-belief so they can achieve anything. I am also really enjoying teaching in a smaller setting where relationships are really meaningful, and teaching and learning can truly be personalised. Blackheath High is also a fervent advocate for girls' education which is very important to me. 

What does your role as Assistant Head encompass? 

As Assistant Head, my role is to help formulate and drive the school's vision and aims, and contribute to the development of the school in all areas. I also have overall responsibility for the strategic direction and operations of the Sixth Form and for ensuring we provide exceptional academic guidance and pastoral support to Sixth Form students, with the goal of preparing them for their life beyond BHS. 

What gets you out of bed in the morning? 

This might sound cheesy, but I love that every single day is an opportunity to learn something new. The idea that learning is a lifelong process is something I didn’t really think about or appreciate in the past and I think that limited my experiences as a young person. Now I try to embrace every learning opportunity. The other thing is knowing that I get to make a positive difference in children’s lives, helping them to learn new skills, develop talent and interests, develop independence and confidence and prepare for their transition to adulthood.  

What kind of leader are you? 

For me, leadership is about empowering others. I believe that creating a sense of autonomy and ownership helps instil trust and leads to better outcomes. A vision is rarely achieved by just one person but by a team. If members of that team share a vision, value each other and each other's strengths and communicate well, they can achieve their goal and beyond.  

Who is your favourite musician? 

A Belgian singer and songwriter called Stromae. He is genuinely one of the most creative artists of all times. Whether you look at his music, his videos, his choreographies, his shows or his clothing line, nothing is left to chance. It’s meticulous, universal, and intergenerational. You often find yourself dancing to lyrics that are extremely serious, which look critically at our society, relationships, and our indifference to the world’s misfortunes. He is well worth looking up if you’ve never heard of him.

What is your favourite subject?  

My favourite subject at school was English. Growing up in France meant that I learnt English as a foreign language. I enjoyed my English lessons, but it was through listening to British and American pop and studying song lyrics that I learnt the most. Today, I would love to study Psychology as I am fascinated by human behaviour and the human mind. 

Do you have any pets? If not, what is your dream pet?  

I have a beagle who is 3 years old. She is adorable, full of energy and I love her to bits but she is often quite naughty and always hungry! 

What are you most proud of?  

My children. They bring a lot of love and laughter to my life and I am extremely proud of the young adults they are becoming. 

Where did you study and what did you study?  

I did a degree in English Literature and Linguistics at the University of Lille III in France. However, I was already living in the UK at the time so I completed my degree by correspondence – lecturers would send the content of modules by mail every term and I would then complete work, take it to the post office and send it back to them. I could really have done with the internet and emails then, but that was not yet readily accessible, which seems completely unthinkable today!