EPICURE Early Spring 2020

TALKING HEADS
WE MEET SOME LOCAL
HEAD TEACHERS
MAYFIELD
SCHOOL
Antonia Beary has been the
Headmistress of Mayfield
School since September 2008.
She was educated in the state
sector before reading English at
Trinity College, Cambridge.
How would you sum up the
ethos of the school?
At Mayfield we believe in
nurturing the unique talents
and promise of each individual girl, supporting and guiding
her to achieve her full potential in everything she does. Our
motto, Actions Not Words, inspired by our founder Cornelia
Connelly and rooted in our Catholic foundation, encourages
initiative, personal and social responsibility, and a commitment
to make a positive difference. Every girl is accepted for who she
is and is encouraged to be the best she can be. We have a vibrant
and supportive community, with a strong boarding tradition,
welcoming girls from all backgrounds, and we value the
importance of cultural, spiritual and physical enrichment. Our
ethos is one in which we educate mind, body, heart and soul.
A single sex environment typically allows students to flourish
in subjects they might ordinarily shy away from – is that the
case at Mayfield?
Yes, as specialists in girls’ education, we have the expertise to
focus our teaching methods in ways that inspire and capture
the girls' interest and understanding, and this is undoubtedly
reflected in the popularity of mathematics and the sciences.
We challenge gender stereotypes and nurture creativity in
everything we do, inside and outside the classroom. It is a myth
that the sciences and the arts are mutually exclusive. To be
successful as a scientist, you need to be creative and innovative,
and to be a successful artist, actor or musician, you need
discipline, logic and focus.
Does boarding help to enhance the lives of students?
Boarding houses today offer plenty of home comforts, and with
increasingly sophisticated technology, pupils can remain in
close contact with home. At Mayfield we offer weekly and flexi
options as well as full boarding, and we have a large number of
local girls who choose to board. We have extensive grounds, and
our pupils benefit from a range of sports and outdoor activities
in school and the surrounding countryside. Working hard and
playing hard is easy!
BOX HILL
SCHOOL
Mr Cory Lowde is Box
Hill School’s fourth
Headmaster and was
appointed in 2014 from
his position as Deputy
Head. He joined the
School in 2010 and prior
to this, Mr Lowde was the
Deputy Headmaster of the
British School of Boston,
Massachusetts, USA.
What attracted you to your school?
An education at Box Hill School is a holistic experience.
Academic grades seem to obsess the press but we believe
that they are an outcome of good character, which is
our primary focus. I love that. I quote an old Victorian
Headmaster and say that a Boxhillian should be ‘useful at
a dance and indispensable in a shipwreck’!
How would you describe the ethos of the school?
For nearly 60 years, we have followed the principles of
Kurt Hahn, who famously said that “there is more in us
than we know. If we could be made to see it, perhaps,
for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for
less.” As a founder member of the Round Square family
of schools, we promote international understanding,
democracy, a care for the world around us, a sense of
adventure and the qualities of leadership and service.
We see excellent academic results as an outcome of this
and we are determined that all pupils should reach their
maximum potential in all that they do.
In an increasingly globalised world, what skills do you
think Round Square equip students with?
Our value added education means we prepare our students
for life. We focus on the development of character and
define success through personal growth. Our students are
encouraged to be sensible risk takers, to be kind, resilient
and have courage, the combination of these make our
children successful in an ever changing world.
What makes you most proud of your pupils?
Their energy, enthusiasm, compassion and belief that they
can and will make a difference. They are fun and delightful
to be around – most definitely our best ambassadors!
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