In Conversation with... Mr Eric Wilkins, Deputy Head (Operations)

How has the College changed in the 12 years that you’ve been here?

The College has changed a huge amount. I’ve worked under two Heads, Frances and Richard. They both made some big changes and have had a hugely positive influence in their leadership. It’s almost like in my career here has been in two halves, working under Frances and various other Deputy Heads and then Richard coming in 2017. I think it’s just kept getting better and better to be honest. It’s still got that friendly ethos that people coming in, whether they’re prospective parents, students or staff, have all noticed. Richard has kept the Queen’s values of positivity, openness and inclusiveness alive.

What has been the highlight of your teaching career at Queen’s to date?

WRITTEN BY EMILIE SITLANI

When did you start teaching at Queen’s?

I started teaching in September 2011, and there is actually a bit of a funny story about how I came to Queen’s. Before I started my teacher training, I was working as a trainee at a Big Four accountancy firm in Mayfair and realised quickly that it wasn’t for me. I started googling local schools and Queen’s came up, so I just randomly contacted the school and got through to David Willows. David was kind enough to invite me in, he allowed me to sit in on some lessons and he talked to me about what it meant to be a history teacher. And then, six months later, I was doing my teacher training and a job came up at Queen’s, and I thought ‘Wow! I’ve actually been there for a day, and I met David’. So, when I came in for the interview, I wasn’t doing it as a nobody, David had already met me and helped inspire me to train to be a teacher. When I’d left on that first day I’d said ‘I hope I work for you one day’, and a year later I actually had a job here!

I think it’s got to be the annual Academic Festivals. They’ve only been running for three years, but they have certainly become the highlight of the post-exam summer calendar. The themes so far have been Japan, Space and – at the end of this term – Fashion (see page 19 for photos). It’s such a great day, with pupils completely off their regular timetable of lessons, but it’s still so scholarly and academic.

What were you like at school?

I absolutely loved school. When I was a primary school pupil I said, ‘I want to be a primary school teacher’, because I adored my primary school so much. I always wanted to sit at the front, I would always put my hand up and was determined to get 10/10 on the little arithmetic quizzes. Hard to believe, I know!

What has been your favourite thing that you’ve participated in as part of the Queen’s community?

The event that springs to mind is when I was part of the staff team that ran the Tough Mudder to raise money for the Bursary Appeal. That was really fun, seeing Mrs Shapiro being rescued from that ice bath is something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.