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Valete

Staff Leavers

Thomas Lyall Tom joined the School in September 2022. Having decided to return to the UK from New Zealand, he once again had to adjust to the changeable British weather. Tom relished the opportunity to link real world events to (sometimes) dry and abstract economic theory and had a particular fondness for explaining the financial crisis – the event that pushed him into teaching in order to earn an honest living. Though Tom has only been with us for a year, he quickly adjusted to the expectations of MTS. Blessed with a strong work ethic, he rapidly developed a keen understanding of Edexcel Economics marking – and if you can get your head around that, you can understand pretty much anything. A kind, enthusiastic, and humorous individual, Tom gave significant support to many A-Level students. He fully embraced the ethos of the School, and through his engagement as a tutor and in sport he really got to know the boys outside the classroom. Tom may never have suspected, though, that he would end up charged with coaching a B team for hockey! Tom is now returning to New Zealand to be closer to his family and will resume his job at his previous school. I hope Tom has enjoyed his ‘year abroad’ and we wish him all the

Stacey Pearson Stacey joined the School in January 2020 and quickly became iconic. Whether it was her astonishingly broad range of outfits or her variety of hair styles and colours, within a few short weeks everybody knew who she was. Unfortunately, her arrival coincided with a national lockdown and so for many months, staff and pupils were deprived of this array. In parallel, along came her newborn son, Thomas, and the combination meant we didn’t see her again properly until January 2021. She returned full of energy and with a determination to make sure every pupil in the School had the chance to find out why Politics is the most interesting subject on the curriculum. She launched Hansard Society for the Lower School to discuss political issues, ran mock Parliaments with the Upper Thirds, and hosted parliamentary workshops on Field Days. Her teaching has been first class, natural and superbly informed. Never happier than when espousing the merits of (and winning converts to) feminism, she has led the Department confidently and helped grow the subject in popularity. Stacey has run extension classes on Middle Eastern Politics, International Treaty Law and Sociology, as well as teaching PSHE to the Sixth Form in a frank and open way which will stand them in very good stead for the future.

Dan Westcott In his two years at Merchant Taylors’, Dan has had a tremendous impact on both the Geography Department and wider school life. Dan is fabulous teacher with a broad skill set; his creative teaching has brought a renewed energy to the Department and all Geography staff have taken inspiration from his exciting lesson ideas. Dan’s infectious enthusiasm has been felt by all of his students and colleagues. He has led the Junior and Senior Geography Societies, and has overseen the publication

of both the Geographical Magazine and the termly newsletter, GeogOn .

These extracurricular contributions have strengthened the Department’s brand and played no small part in increasing the uptake

best for the future. Dr M. I. Beacham

of the subject at GCSE and A-Level. Dan’s skills are not confined to the

Geography Department – during his two year stint he has played an important role in Staff IT training and spent countless hours on the hockey pitch with the U14As and U15Bs. Dan has been part of a palpable social and cultural change in the School, leading assemblies on well-being, inclusivity, and challenging toxic masculinity. His hard work with Ben Oxenham in leading Jaffa Cake Club will leave a lasting legacy. Dan will be sorely missed throughout the School, but most readily within the Geography Department; he has been a fabulous colleague to work with and I have no doubt that his skills and ‘banter’ will be well received wherever he ends up next (even if his ‘singing’ isn’t!). Thank you, Dan! Mr A. L. Murray

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