24th July 2006
Dear Parents,
I write at the end of the school year to give some appreciation for the staff leaving and to wish you all the very best for the school holidays. The last day of term ends tomorrow at 12.20 pm for Year 7 & 8, and at 12.30 pm for the remainder of the school.
Mr. Mulhern will bring to a close his long and distinguished teaching career, although I am grateful to him for teaching a final specialised unit of Classical Civilisation next term. Mr. Mulhern has taught his whole career at Wallington. A member of Queens’ College, Cambridge and Pembroke College, Oxford, he was appointed to the school in 1971. Three years later he became Head of English and, in addition in 1982, Head of Sixth Form. He was elected as teacher governor. He acted as Deputy Headmaster from 1989 before his formal appointment in 1993. In that capacity he did much to steer the school’s development as grant-maintained. In August 2001, Mr. Mulhern relinquished his responsibilities as Deputy Headmaster and returned to reading and teaching, reading works of literature and teaching Classical Civilisation part time. Throughout his time at the school, Mr. Mulhern’s involvement in extra-curricular activities has been on an impressive scale. He has been in charge of school drama, directed productions and organised debates. He served as Senior Housemaster of Mandeville. He made a foremost contribution on the sports field, in cross-country, cricket and rugby, and maintained that commitment, each Saturday, over very many years. Mr. Mulhern has given thirty-five years’ outstanding service to the School, and generations of pupils will be grateful to him for his help and encouragement, erudite teaching and wise guidance.
Mrs. Lewis also has decided to retire, having stepped down from her responsibilities as Assistant Headteacher in 2001. Following a First Class Honours degree in Classics at Bedford College, London, Mrs. Lewis taught for a number of years prior to taking up an appointment at Wallington in January 1979. In addition to her responsibilities as Head of Classics, Mrs. Lewis edited the School Record and initially developed the personal and social education programme. She was appointed Head of Year and, in 1990, Head of the Junior School. Mrs. Lewis became responsibility for admissions. Mrs. Lewis has continued to teach Classical Civilisation and Latin on a part-time basis, and her retirement is to coincide with the last group taking Latin in the School. As such her leaving represents a great loss to the character of the School. Over her near 27 years’ service to the School, and particularly in her role as Assistant Headteacher, Mrs. Lewis made a major contribution to the pastoral life, management and administration of the school and the School’s reputation as a caring institution is due in no small measure to her work over the years.
Miss Davies has decided to leave after 22 years’ service. A graduate of York University, Miss Davies joined the School in September 1984 and took over from Mr. Russell as Head of Economics in 1987. She has also taught Mathematics and Classical Civilisation, and developed Work Experience. Miss Davies has been much involved in the wider life of the school. She served on the Staff Common Room Committee, the Autumn Fair and Dance Committee, precursors of the PTFA, and on the School’s Finance and the Governing Body’s Staffing Committee. She was assistant leader of skiing trips and led an Adventure Holiday. She was active in support of drama, involved in make-up and costumes, and accompanied pupils on numerous theatre visits. Until becoming part-time in 2001, Miss Davies served as Senior Housemaster of Woodcote. Frequently seen supporting House and School fixtures, Miss Davies has given greatly to the School over the years.
Mr. Behnoudnia has been appointed as Assistant Subject Leader of Physics at Kingston Grammar School. He joined the School in September 1989. From the very beginning he was involved in curriculum development in vocational initiatives and was appointed Co-ordinator for Work Related Learning and Careers. He organised Sixth Form and Year 10 Industry days, which were much appreciated. Always concerned for pupils’ pastoral well-being, he was appointed Head of Year 7 in ’98, and latterly Year 10 Leader. He has served on the PTFA and was much involved in social events. He served as Senior Housemaster of Radcliffe. Mr. Behnoudnia has been extensively involved in the wider life of the School, frequently helped with school sports on Saturdays and often accompanied very many school trips over his many years at the school.
Mr. Brett has been appointed to a post in PE and Games in Dubai. He joined the School in January 2001. He edited The Record and was recently appointed Assistant Subject Leader for PE & Games. He has served as coach for Sutton in athletics and for Surrey at U18 rugby. He has given unstintingly to the extra curricular life of the school. He introduced Basketball and Ultimate Frisbee, took charge of Athletics and has led a number of rugby and cricket teams with aplomb. Almost every Saturday he devoted to school sports, frequently working on late after practices and coming in during the holidays. Mr. Brett has helped lead many school trips, notably Skiing holidays and rugby tours to Canada.
Mr. Fletcher has been appointed to the British School in Washington. He was appointed to teach Mathematics from September 2003, having completed his teaching practice here. He has played a leading role in the Christian Union, and took a key part in supporting PTFA football events.
Miss Cook, who was appointed in September 2004 to teach Geography, has resigned because she is to marry and move to Salisbury. Miss Cook brought her considerable experience of travel to her teaching, and has been much involved in the wider life of the school, notably field trips but also taking junior rugby teams on occasional Saturdays.
Mr. Lines has been appointed Subject Leader for Economics and Enterprise Co-ordinator at Townley Grammar School for Girls in Kent near his home. He joined the School in September 2004 and was appointed the following year Subject Leader for Economics and Business Studies. Mr. Lines brought to the School his experience of product development and design management at Sainsbury’s and he developed Enterprise Education.
Dr. Donovan has been appointed Head of Mathematics at Landsdowne College, a small independent school in London. In this he returns to an earlier role prior to biochemical research at the National Institute for Medical Research and at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York. Dr. Donovan has given freely of his time to the additional work of the Mathematics department, running after school classes for local primary school pupils, booster classes for Year 9 pupils and the Intermediate and Senior UK Maths Challenges
Mr. Karatzas has been promoted to Director of ICT at St. Michael’s Catholic Grammar School. He was appointed here in September 2005 and brought to the school his experience of programming and analysis. He has been involved in the running of homework club, including the ICT coursework clinic on Saturdays.
Mrs. Hearn has been appointed to teach Biology at St. Dunstan’s College, having joined the school in January to teach part-time following some years at Holy Trinity College, Bromley. Mrs. Shouler also joined at the same time on a fixed term part time (0.5) contract to teach History. Mrs. Webb has also valuable support to the Mathematics department. Mrs. Beevers, who is Assistant Subject Leader for English and Year 10 Leader, is expecting a baby in August and is to take maternity leave. Finally, Mrs. Filby, who started her role as Administrative Assistant for Personnel in September 2005, leaves to return to the Middle East with her family.
Much is due to these colleagues who, in their different ways and for much varied periods, have contributed to the success of the School. The School’s academic success owes much to well-qualified hard-working colleagues, and pupils’ enjoyment of School owes much to those who have contributed beyond the confines of the classroom.
I am pleased to announce that the School is fully staffed for next term, which begins on Tuesday, 5th September. We finish late this year, and the summer holiday is a shorter than normal. By coincidence, the Staff Conference days for next year have recently been determined and the revised terms and holidays distributed last week include longer Christmas and Easter holidays.
It remains but for me to wish you all a good holiday.
Headmaster.
