old perseans
Staff Profile
Lilian Blaxill
I
started teaching at The Perse
in terms. Much as I love the
time with family, both here and in
in 1995; the year girls joined the
mathematical side of my job, and
Scotland, is always treasured.
School. Coincidentally there
I really do, it is as a Sixth Form
There are too many fantastic
was a large number of female staff
tutor where I hope I may have the
students and classes I have
appointed that year – probably one
biggest impact on students’ overall
encountered to name them all
for each of the seven or so girls who
wellbeing. I have been incredibly
but one of my early double Maths
were in the Sixth Form!
lucky to have tutor groups who
classes who gave me a hamster
will join in with every ridiculous
(actually a toy guinea pig) complete
Physics and GNVQ numeracy at
venture, from half marathons to
with cage, food and owner’s guide
a Further Education college in
fashion shows and lip sync battles.
(for a mouse) does stick in my
Before joining The Perse I taught
Penzance. I think it was at the point
There is no doubt in my mind
mind. So too does the student who,
when the bench caught on fire
that I have been incredibly
when the School asked us to be
during an experiment on measuring
fortunate to find a job that I
very “on message” and add the
the specific heat capacity of
genuinely love but, as with any job,
phrase “Celebrating 400 years of
paraffin that I realised perhaps a
there are aspects that are mundane
The Perse” to our email signature,
less experiment-based subject,
or tiresome. Occasionally on a wet
suggested I add “Celebrating 400
such as Maths, was best for me.
and windy November morning,
years at The Perse”. And finally, the
I question how eight years at
student who perhaps best embodies
Mathematics, following my first
university led me to be trudging
my well-meaning attempts at
degree in Maths and Astronomy
round the School grounds on duty
pastoral care: who replied as I
and a PhD in Astrophysics. I’d
with the mantra “Tuck your shirt in”
walked into form time and greeted
always been drawn to the idea of
on repeat. And marking; ah, the gift
the students with a cheery “I’m in a
lecturing but, during my PhD, I
that keeps on giving. Of course, as
good mood today” with the warning
began to realise that lecturing and
my classes remind me; I only have
“It’s a trap…”
teaching are very different things
myself to blame for that one.
In fact, my PGCE was in
and it was the interactive nature of
But for the most part, each day
teaching which really appealed. One
is interesting and, crucially, filled
Name: Dr Lilian Blaxill
of the things which makes teaching
with laughter both in lessons and
Joined The Perse: 1995
at The Perse so rewarding is the day
in the Maths office (a place as wild
Subject: Maths
to day conversations with students.
and exciting as you might imagine.)
Also known for:
Colleagues become friends and a
Running, founding the
vital support mechanism.
School's Maclaurin Society,
Over the years, the pastoral side of the job has become more and more important to me, which
Outside of school? Well running
encouraging staff to make
may come as a surprise to those
slowly trying not to fall over on flat
fun of themselves and raise
who may suggest that “Glaswegian
unimpeded ground is a great way
money in the lip sync battle.
empathy” is a contradiction
to clear the stresses of the day and 10
