STAFF & LEAVERS | KINGSWOOD IN FOCUS 2017-18
DEBBIE JENNER Kingswood Staff 1985 - 2018
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ccasionally we say goodbye to someone whose influence on generations of Kingswood students has been exceptionally profound. In these cases it is not just about what they have done - although they will have contributed massively across the whole spectrum of School life - but much more significantly about how they have done this and the example they have set. These are people who really do live the values which we talk about at Kingswood, and Mrs Jenner is without doubt one of these rare, and rather special, people. In March 1985, Miss Deborah Arbourne applied for a Geography teaching post at Kingswood. The Headmaster of her current place of work wrote, in support of her application: ‘Debbie Arbourne is a woman of exceptional drive and vitality. She is of cheerful disposition, tactful and responsible, and she works well as part of a team. Robust and energetic, she is at the same time sympathetic and caring’. For 1985, read 2018, but now with 33 years of exceptional service to Kingswood. It is, of course, impossible to do justice to those 33 years. 15 were
spent as an outstanding Senior Housemistress of Summerhill, where Mrs Jenner’s warmth and supportive approach towards all the girls is so fondly remembered. A short stint in the 1980s, and a longer stint post-housemistressing were taken up with being Head of Geography, and of course, all 33 years were spent teaching this subject in a very popular department with outstanding results, due largely to Mrs Jenner’s real passion for the subject. Large numbers of Kingswood students have headed to universities to study Geography and related subjects, instilled not only with that same enthusiasm and passion, but also with the belief that this is something important. Geography is a subject which deals with real world issues, and it is therefore a natural fit for someone who really wants to make a difference – someone like Mrs Jenner. It is no surprise that she has also been actively involved in the School’s Malawi projects, or that she has sought to offer exciting educational trips to Iceland and elsewhere. And alongside all this, Mrs Jenner also found time to run Hockey and Netball teams, and offer exceptional
...your place in the School’s history is secure.
tutoring in Senior houses and, most recently, Westwood. For the last few years, she has also been Chair of the Common Room - a role which acts as a link between the staff and the Headmaster - elected, not surprisingly, by her fellow teachers. The very best school teachers will really love their subjects, and have a desire to share that love with young people. They will take every student as an individual, and think about how they might help them make the most of their abilities. But there are also those for whom this commitment is even deeper, and doesn’t waver. Whose selflessness is quite natural, and whose first thought will always be for someone else. Who see the positives and don’t seem to have a cross word for anyone. For these qualities, Kingswood owes Mrs Jenner so very much. You have been a true servant to Kingswood, and your place in the School’s history is secure – thank you.
Mr Simon Morris (Headmaster) (adapted from speech in Final Assembly, June 2018)
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