Taylorian

Valete

Staff Leavers

his appointment as Director of Scholarship and Enrichment. In this role he reimagined the Scholarship Programme, initiating individual meetings with scholars to help them on their journey and advise them with their subject options. The pupils enjoyed Philip’s interest in what they had to say, and quickly identified him as a teacher beyond his curriculum, who could entertain a discussion on any topic. He relaunched the Scholars’ Dinner, where he hosted speakers from the British Museum and Hollywood, and he encouraged scholars to submit academic articles to Scissorum . He has overseen the Oxbridge application process, collaborating on Academic Supervisions and Independent Study Courses, and he has stretched and supported dozens of candidates towards success. Philip’s work for the Admissions Department has been greatly valued, and his role in recruiting top talent cannot

He pioneered the hosting of PGCE students in Classics, which now occurs regularly in departments across the School. He added the role of Professional Coordinating Mentor to his workload, something that is now carried out by a dedicated Assistant Staff Tutor. He fostered the nascent teaching skills of those new to the profession, guiding them with his particular brand of sensible advice. In the words of Maria Bergquist, one such PGCE placement student who subsequently joined the school as a Classics Teacher for her first post: “Philip was the best possible person from whom to learn how to teach. I remember him saying very early on in my PGCE that the really important thing is that every student should have to think. I’ve always taken that as the first criterion for reflecting on how a lesson went.” His intellectual rigour – and also the Master’s in Education which he quietly picked up along the way – led naturally to

weighty academic tome. You may even agree with the observation of a recent pupil that whenever Philip is deep in academic discussion, he reclines in his curule chair in the manner of a Roman emperor. As Head of Department, Philip has worked assiduously throughout his twelve years, and we were never more grateful for his forensic eye and pragmatism than during the gruelling CAGS and TAGS, which the pandemic inflicted on every head of department across the nation. Described by senior colleagues as highly competent, measured and perspicacious, his counsel and strategy has regularly been sought. He has embraced whole-school initiatives, whilst also offering frank challenges and caution where needed. Indeed, his quiet presence belies this steel, which has shown itself whenever Philip has felt the need to champion common sense and colleagues.

17

Taylorian 2023