Farewell to Mrs Dale

At the end of the summer we said a fond farewell to Ms Jane Dale, former Head of English. Having spent 19 years with us encouraging our students to think bigger, work harder and never miss an opportunity, she has taken the time to cast her mind back to her favourite moments from her career at QEGS. We were able to catch up with her before she left. 

What led you to a career at QEGS? 

Before I became a teacher, I was a Norland Nanny. When the children I had looked after for years were too old to have a nanny, I decided to go to university to become a primary school teacher. As part of the education degree, I studied literature as my specialist subject, which I loved, and after the first year switched courses to a literature degree. Afterwards, I completed a PGCE and became an English teacher.

Just before I came to QEGS, I was teaching in a school in Lincoln, where my values and professional integrity were challenged daily, and I was seriously considering giving up teaching altogether. When I saw the advertisement for Head of English at QEGS, I applied because my experience of grammar school education had been so positive – I’d been educated at the grammar school in Louth and my first teaching post was at a grammar school in Kent.

Arriving at QEGS for the interview, I immediately felt welcomed by staff, who were all passionate about their work with bright, curious students. I realised that there was life after Lincoln and have never looked back.

How long have you been working here? 

I’ve been here 19 years! QEGS is such a great school, it’s hard to imagine being as happy anywhere else. I semi-retired three years ago and am now part-time, counting down to retirement. 

What is your fondest memory from time at QEGS? 

I’m not sure I have one specific memory, but I’ve listed a few (quite a few) memorable moments below… 

• Making the mad decision, in 2004, to raise money for charity by walking 50 miles in two and a half days with four of my sixth form tutees, Kaja, Lizzie, Hannah and Ashdon, and Claire Brooks, the Head of Geography. We left without much planning; Claire was recovering from a knee operation, Kaja had only shorts and plimsolls with her, it snowed and hailed...I thought I’d never recover or walk again! 
• Spending two days off-timetable at the Horncastle Youth Centre, listening to Julian Whybra from GIFT challenge gifted and talented students of all ages to think up strategies to solve whole-world problems. It was mind-blowing. 

• The ‘4 o’clock book group’ held at my house, once every half-term for about five years. The students and I discussed the classics, while Paul Wright and Claire Brooks made tea and amazing cakes for us. 
• Taking my Year 8 tutor group to the Yorkshire Dales, with Claire Brooks, Paul Wright and Garrath Ellershaw - despite losing the keys to the mini-bus and being stranded at Doncaster service station for hours! 
• Listening to the poet Anne Stevenson discuss her work with our A Level students, who studied one of her anthologies. She visited almost every year for nearly 10 years! 
• Caroline Paige’s upper school assemblies. Hearing her challenge and inspire students to view transgender people positively and rethink attitudes towards sexuality. 
• Being blown away when my students Kate Loosemore, Molly Biggadike and Damaris Bennett made me my very own ‘feminist’ display, which is still in room 44. 
• Being invited to take the QEGS bridge team to play in the House of Lords. 
• Discovering by chance that one of our old students Connie Ellis was one of the 100 suffrage pioneers. 

What has been your biggest achievement(s)?  

Seeing students arrive in Year 7 and watching their progress through school and beyond, and realising you’ve had a hand in their lives and maybe helped them towards an understanding of something that they’ll carry with them. 

What advice would you give to anyone who is about to join the QEGS community?  

Share your passion and never be afraid to show students you’re human by admitting you don’t always know the answers – it’s the questions you can’t answer that prompt the most interesting thinking.