Life Before RHS – Jess E
Back with the weekly feature of Life Before RHS, what’s in store for readers this week? A teacher who’s skydived, promised she would never work in education, and even had pyjamas made for her dog. Read below to find out more!
Mrs Izod-Miller – Head of Sixth Form
Background on the cover photo: ‘It’s the first class I ever taught- and in the background is the first staff house I ever lived in – no electricity, no running water and shared with a local family who slept the other side of a thin wall.’ Read on to learn more about Mrs Izod-Miller’s experience in Tanzania!
Favourite Memory Before RHS?
’Before I was wrangling sixth formers, I was doting on my first “child” — Hector the dog. Back in his glory days (pre-human siblings), Hector was the undisputed king of the household. So much so, that I once had pyjamas made for him. Bespoke made. At the time, it felt like a deeply meaningful gesture. Now? Let’s just say it’s a memory that lives on in family legend… and in photos Hector hopes never surface.’
Hector in his pyjamas made for him, he looks incredibly pleased!
What Was Your School Career Like?
‘I’ve taken the scenic route into education. I started teaching in Tanzania with a class of 60 students — aged between 8 and 18 — all in one room. Since then, I’ve worked in schools for deaf pupils, alternative provision units, inner-city comprehensives, and a girls’ grammar. All with very different demands and challenges.’
Here’s some footage from Mrs Izod-Miller’s time teaching in Tanzania. The video shows the Tanzanian equivalent of divisions.
Did You Always Want to Work in Education?
‘Absolutely not. In fact, I once told my university tutor — with great conviction — that I would never become a tweed-wearing geography teacher. Fast forward a few years and… well, the tweed found me. I did try to avoid teaching at first, working with universities and supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds. But education kept calling, and eventually I answered (in a very stylish jacket).’
Something Not Many People Know About Me…
‘I’ve skydived (twice), bungee jumped, white-water rafted down the Nile, and completed two triathlons and a handful of open water swimming races. I’ve also subjected Hector to more humiliation by trying him out at professional agility competitions – turns out there is a reason you don’t see many whippets at Crufts!’
That’s it for this week on ‘Life Before RHS’ if you want to know more secret insights into the life of your teachers before they became a part of RHS, come back next week for an insight into another member of staff!
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