No . 136 The Trusty Servant
Gill Cawse ( Co Ro , 89-23 ) ( Geography , Learning Support 1989 - 2023 )
Christian Schofield ( Head of Learning Support , Co Ro 13- ) writes :
Gill Cawse retires this summer an astonishing 34 years after joining the College as a Geography don . She did this for four years , before temporarily taking a back seat to bring up her three children : Oliver , Ben and Hannah . With her husband Tim a mainstay of the College , she lived in various College properties on Culver Road and College Street , and remembers hosting Wykehamists for tea in the days when pupils were not only allowed to enter dons ’ houses , but were actively encouraged to do so .
In 2006 , she started working within the recently set-up Learning Support department , with her husband Tim as her boss . Tim tells me that he gave Gill a huge amount of work to do because he could always trust her judgements and ability to meet deadlines . Apparently she never complained , but got her revenge at home when roles were reversed , and Tim found himself with a splendid amount of washing-up to do .
I joined the school in 2013 , and have consistently relied upon Gill ’ s wisdom , experience , good-humour , kindness , fairness , and loyalty .
I suspect that many people may not fully understand how Learning Support works , or the fact that it can often be quite difficult to develop a relationship with a young person who isn ’ t quite clicking with his or her academic subjects , or dons . Those young people who walk through the doors can be complex – now , more than ever – yet Gill always found a way to connect . I have lost count of the number of times I have heard peals of mutual laughter coming from Gill ’ s office : but this gives an indication as to why her pupils rate her so highly – she enjoys their company , and knows how to help them . When asked about Mrs Cawse , a young Kennyite with processing difficulties said very simply : “ She helped me build good habits and helped me up when I was feeling down ”. These things , these relationships , matter , and can make a world of difference to a young person who may be feeling rather lost and small within the intense world that is WinColl .
I also suspect that many may not be aware of the range and breadth of Gill ’ s talents and abilities , which have all contributed to her work within the school . She has a Masters in dyscalculia – the Maths equivalent of dyslexia , if you like , and something far less understood . She is known regionally as an expert in this field . She became a qualified mindfulness teacher well before mental health became such a buzz word in education . She completed a coaching qualification in order to be able to offer a different approach for pupils particularly struggling with procrastination and academic underperformance . And of course , she holds the Postgraduate Diploma in Dyslexia and Literacy , which allows her to complete assessments for exams , and diagnose dyslexia . This wonderful range of qualifications and abilities really did mean that Gill was able to tailor her sessions perfectly to the needs of the pupil . Feeling stressed and overwhelmed ? Let ’ s try some mindfulness . Not sure how to revise ? Here are some flashcards : let ’ s use different colours and summarise the key facts . In general , feeling a bit lost and uncertain about future goals ? No problem , let ’ s take a coaching approach .
Within the Learning Centre , she is described as the “ the kindest , calmest , most patient colleague I could wish for ”, cherished for her “ dedication , hard work , and kindness ”; and her successor makes reference to you being “ calm and measured , with the students at the centre of everything you do ”. As for me , I can ’ t quite decide whether to go with a pithy , one-word description such as ‘ LEDGE ’, or to use some cheesy imagery inspired by her irritatingly loyal devotion to Tottenham Hotspur . Let ’ s go for the latter .
I did wonder about Lineker , Gazza , Hoddle , Waddle ... but in the end , for longevity and sustained success over so many years , can I label her the ... Harry Kane of the Learning Centre ?
Gill , seize those Alpine walking sticks , pack granddaughter Rhaya into a baby sling , and keep making the most of everything you do . On behalf of us all , thank you for your decades of loyal service , good humour , and smiles .
Liz Veal ( Co Ro , 13-23 )
Mark Romans ( Ho Do K , 10-21 ; Co Ro , 00- ) writes :
Graham Watson ’ s ( Co Ro , 97-17 ) capture of Liz from Peter Symonds College turned out to be a moment of rare genius . It was a remarkable coup for the school and , indeed , for all of us who have had the great good fortune to spend any time in her company .
Small she undoubtedly is , but this means that nature has merely contrived to endow Liz with the perfect disguise . She is one of the most modest and unassuming people I know , yet the truth is that she is someone in whom talents lie richly concentrated . And like Hermia , though she is but little , she is fierce . When you say something stupid she is quite prepared to give you a bit of a nip .
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