Staff Profile

StAFF PROFiLe Lilian Blaxill

istarted teaching at The Perse in 1995; the year girls joined the School. Coincidentally there was a large number of female staff appointed that year – probably one for each of the seven or so girls who were in the Sixth Form!

Before joining The Perse I taught

Physics and GNVQ numeracy at a Further Education college in

Penzance. I think it was at the point when the bench caught on fire during an experiment on measuring the specific heat capacity of paraffin that I realised perhaps a less experiment-based subject, such as Maths, was best for me.

In fact, my PGCE was in

Mathematics, following my first degree in Maths and Astronomy and a PhD in Astrophysics. I’d always been drawn to the idea of lecturing but, during my PhD, I began to realise that lecturing and teaching are very different things and it was the interactive nature of teaching which really appealed. One of the things which makes teaching at The Perse so rewarding is the day to day conversations with students.

Over the years, the pastoral side of the job has become more and more important to me, which may come as a surprise to those who may suggest that “Glaswegian empathy” is a contradiction in terms. Much as I love the mathematical side of my job, and I really do, it is as a Sixth Form tutor where I hope I may have the biggest impact on students’ overall wellbeing. I have been incredibly lucky to have tutor groups who will join in with every ridiculous venture, from half marathons to fashion shows and lip sync battles.

There is no doubt in my mind that I have been incredibly fortunate to find a job that I genuinely love but, as with any job, there are aspects that are mundane or tiresome. Occasionally on a wet and windy November morning, I question how eight years at university led me to be trudging round the School grounds on duty with the mantra “Tuck your shirt in” on repeat. And marking; ah, the gift that keeps on giving. Of course, as my classes remind me; I only have myself to blame for that one.

But for the most part, each day is interesting and, crucially, filled with laughter both in lessons and in the Maths office (a place as wild and exciting as you might imagine.) Colleagues become friends and a vital support mechanism.

Outside of school? Well running slowly trying not to fall over on flat unimpeded ground is a great way to clear the stresses of the day and time with family, both here and in Scotland, is always treasured.

There are too many fantastic students and classes I have encountered to name them all but one of my early double Maths classes who gave me a hamster (actually a toy guinea pig) complete with cage, food and owner’s guide (for a mouse) does stick in my mind. So too does the student who, when the School asked us to be very “on message” and add the phrase “Celebrating 400 years of The Perse” to our email signature, suggested I add “Celebrating 400 years at The Perse”. And finally, the student who perhaps best embodies my well-meaning attempts at pastoral care: who replied as I walked into form time and greeted the students with a cheery “I’m in a good mood today” with the warning “It’s a trap…”

nAMe: dr lilian blaxill JOineD the PeRSe: 1995 SubJeCt: maths

ALSO knOWn FOR:

running, founding the school's maclaurin society, encouraging staff to make fun of themselves and raise money in the lip sync battle.