SCHOOL NEWS – ROB AND HEATHER PAVIS FAREWELL After almost eight years at Gordon’s, Rob and Heather Pavis are swapping the leafy surrounds of Surrey Heath for the surf on the North Devon coastline where Rob will take up the Headship at Kingsley School. As for the abiding memories he will take with him, Mr Pavis said “So many memories. Obviously the big ceremonials but I think Annual on the Front Field for the first time was a real ‘wow moment’ for me. And the most rewarding part of his job? “The greatest satisfaction from my work and the biggest joy that I have here is seeing the children happy. I secretly stand by and just look at happy children and I get such a warm glow from knowing that I am part of making that happen. That is the most fulfilling role”. What is he most looking forward to about taking over the Headship of Kingsley School with students ageing in range from babies to young adults? “I’m looking forward to ultimately building something that has my name on it” he said, adding: “Keeping Heather out of the nursery will be my greatest challenge”!
Heather Pavis
Rob Pavis Rob, Deputy Head (Pastoral) and Heather, who heads up China House, moved to Gordon’s in 2014 from Steyning Grammar School in Sussex where Rob was Assistant Head and Director of Boarding. While Rob’s time at Gordon’s involved leading a five year digital strategy and developing the sport and curricular at the school, it was through the pandemic that his prowess really came to the fore. Who could forget the cartoons, online assemblies, the ‘disappearing’ Japanese cooking lesson? All were enthusiastically devised and implemented by him. His biggest achievement at Gordon’s, he says, was welcoming the first boarders into the bespoke Year 7 residential boarding house, Woolwich. “I conceived it, was involved in the design and the building and it has completely transformed boarding here. Whenever you go down to Woolwich it is just packed full of happy kids. It is light and fun, exciting and everything that boarding in Year 7 should be. It’s just magical there”. He continued: “These children in Year 7 are happy and settled and when going into senior houses they are ready to go into them, they want to go into them. “It has also brought the boys and girls together. They have learned to live with each other, learned tolerance, acceptance, respect, it has been fantastic.”
P4
The Gordonian
While she exudes a sense of calm and order, the quietlyspoken Heather Pavis, does admit to another side since joining China as Head of House: “I’ve become really competitive!” she confesses, adding: “as I am not in the least sporty, it’s something that I have been quite surprised at”. She has supported her girls’ Day House on the edge of football pitches; netball courts and through the seemingly endless cycle of other Inter-House competitions but prizes, above all, the winning of the Longmoor Drill Cup on three occasions. “It’s a definite highlight of my time at Gordon’s” she says. “Longmoor is special because the whole House is involved. You spend all that time preparing but what’s really nice is the camaraderie when everyone is getting ready and plaiting hair and helping each other. It’s a really, really close feeling. When they go out there and perform well, it’s amazing.” It’s being a part of their journey from child to adulthood that is most cherished by Mrs Pavis. For her part, once she reaches her new seaside home, Mrs Pavis plans on taking time out, perhaps restarting her vintage wedding catering business. But high on her agenda is paddleboarding! Reflecting on over seven years at Gordon’s as a Head of House, she said: “I love the job, have always loved it. I have never had a day when I’ve woken up and thought ‘I don’t want to go to work today’.” “This has just been the most amazing place to work. When you get into the bones of what Gordon’s is about it’s how much the staff care about each child, I think it is just second to none. It’s something I haven’t experienced in the same depth at other schools. You know every child, what makes them tick – and blow up! You just know them. It’s been an absolute pleasure and privilege” she says, adding: “A large part of me does bleed green”.
#Connect #Support #Enhance
