22/03/2022
Welcome to our new Alumnae 'Five Minutes With.." feature. Today, we have Five Minutes with Amanda Dean who went to St Hilary's and is now our Admissions Officer here at AESG! It's been fascinating to hear Amanda's tales while she was at St Hiliary's.
1. Who was your favourite teacher when at Mount Carmel / AESG / St Hilary’s and why?
I had lots of favourite teachers at St Hilary's, but Mrs Straw, who was our Divinity teacher in Senior School and the Deputy Head of school (she was also Deputy Head at AESG, when the schools first merged) taught us a great lesson in life, if you respect people and work hard you will be respected yourself and go far. We always had such fun in her lessons and she got the results needed, but you didn't cross the line!
2. • What’s your favourite memory?
My favourite memories are being part of the music department and performing in school plays. Also being the youngest House Captain of Stuart House and Being Head of Choir in Sixth Form. When I first went to St Hilary's our Headmistress, Miss Kingsey, wore her black gown everywhere, she was terrifying, we had to courtesy whenever we saw her. Walking down in a crocodile line through the village to church once a term was always something people in the village would come out to see.
3.• What advice would you pass on to the current girls now that you have gone all the way through?
My advice would be to enjoy your school life, join in as many activities as you can and don't miss out on opportunities given to you.
4. • What’s your role in school and what was it like coming back to work here?
I have worked here for 19 years, I started running the Uniform Shop and then worked part time in Finance as well. Then 18 months ago I was appointed as the Admissions Officer. I was also a parent here for 15 years, and in between leaving as a student and being a parent, I was on the Old Girls committee, so I feel I have never really left. The hardest thing I found coming to work back at school, was going into the staff room!!