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TAYLORIAN 2024 VALETE

Rob Garvey Rob Garvey arrived at MTS in 2016 with a pretty good pedigree (Head Boy at Felsted; alumnus of Cambridge and Paris Universities) marred only by a couple of slips (practised as a lawyer, worked at Habs). Appointed as Head of Upper School, Rob seamlessly took on this challenging role (having inherited a right mess from his predecessor) and brought real energy and enthusiasm to it. Never afraid to run towards problems, Rob demonstrated both the empathy and sound judgement needed from a pastoral leader, as well as the vision and determination to drive through effective change. Many a Sixth Former appreciated (perhaps not at the time) being held to high standards, and all under his guidance will have valued the individual care that Rob showed them. Rob also walked the walk when it came to contributing to the school’s provision of a holistic education. He taught RS, Politics, and Philosophy, showing utmost diligence and conscientiousness in supporting his pupils; he has coached hockey teams two terms every year, accompanying senior and junior tours to South Africa and Holland; in 2019 he led a school trip to Israel and Palestine.

No surprise that someone who so quickly immersed himself in MTS life and showed such assurance in the Head of Upper School role should be promoted to Academic Deputy in 2019. Here Rob’s luck abandoned him: Covid shut down the school in March of his first year in the role. However, the school could not have wished for a steadier hand on the tiller: Rob showed that inestimable quality needed in a crisis – unflappability – and calmly oversaw the rapid yet smooth introduction of digital learning, tablet roll-out, Centre Assessed Grades and Teacher-Assessed Grades (remember those?). Quite deservedly he acquired the Senior Deputy Head status, as well as being snapped up by RMS to be one of their Governors. Having navigated the school out of the Covid years and embedded a fine culture of teaching, learning and scholarship, it was inevitable that Rob would ring the bell and be summoned to Headship. Merchant Taylors’ loss is Wetherby Senior’s gain, but Rob (and Flo and Max and Jim) will forever remain welcome members of the MTS community. Mr M. C. Husbands