Surrey Homes | SH101 | June 2023 | Education Supplement inside

The school memories of... Rachel Waterhouse, Head of
Science and Key Stage 3 at Manor House School, Bookham
Education Supplement
My first memory of school is a baby lamb running riot in our classroom being
chased by nuns! I went to a convent school in Wales. I think that single event was
quite formative as now when I plan my lessons I always look for that unusual ‘hook
for learning’ to engage the class. My Senior School Teacher, Mrs Edmonds, fuelled
my passion for Biology. When I finished my A Levels she gave me a beautiful,
white owl ornament and said, ‘Whatever you end up doing just stay wise’.
An A Level module on disease steered my first career path. Having studied Pathology,
the glamour of TV forensics called. I loved problem solving, particularly in toxicology,
however out of the lab I realised I was not brave enough! I took a slight detour into
Tax Accountancy, but it was all maths and no science! One lunchtime I walked over
Waterloo Bridge and came across The Franklin-Wilkins Building of King’s College
London, School of Education. I walked in, there and then, and asked about training
to be a teacher. I had an on-the-spot interview and three weeks later I started my
PGCE and was back in the grips of Science. It was the best decision I ever made.
Nineteen years on, every day at Manor House School is different and I can share
my passion and slightly crazy ‘hooks for learning’ with those who will hopefully
remember them when they grow up. Going into teaching was my way of staying wise.
Learn more about Manor House School, Bookham at manorhouseschool.org
Memories
that mademe
In so many ways, our school days shape the
rest of our lives, so we’re looking back at
some positive turning points
istockphoto.com/ Julia August & Miodrag Kitanovic & OksanaTelesheva
The school memories of... Finn Bruce (Former Hurtwood House Student),
Award Winning Film Producer, Writer and Founder of Belstone Pictures
My decision to go to Hurtwood House was motivated by my love of acting, but
I am eternally grateful for the advice of my headmaster, Cosmo Jackson, to step
behind the camera and take Media Studies A Level. My teachers Matt McIvor and
Luke Gilchrist were not your average teachers. Having worked in the film industry,
they really knew what they were talking about and having them as mentors was lifechanging.
Before Hurtwood I was disillusioned with school, but making thrillers
and pop videos in the TV studio and post-production editing suite with Matt
and Luke, I realised that film was my true calling. They taught me the technical
expertise, but more importantly they fostered a burning passion in me for film.
In Hurtwood’s ‘Film Academy’ (think a film school within the school), I directed and
produced documentaries, and that cemented my decision to go into the film industry and
be a creative producer. Luke and Matt also gave me the courage and self-belief to pursue
my dream job. Fast forward to the present and I am delighted to say that I am thriving as
a film producer, and my first film ‘Tank 432’ was sold to Netflix. I have now won awards
at many film festivals, something I never thought would be possible as I nervously started
at Hurtwood all those years ago, full of self-doubt. I am so grateful that I return to
Hurtwood every year to help current students with their production techniques, catch up
with Luke and Matt and watch them inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
Find out more about Hurtwood House at hurtwoodhouse.com
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