In the Common Room

I always look forward to the publication of Wulfrunian, as it serves to remind me what a thriving, diverse and successful community Wolverhampton Grammar School is.

Looking through the articles and the photographs in the magazine I realise how fortunate our students are that staff are so willing to devote their time and energy to providing so many enrichment activities. The School can celebrate another wonderful year of activity.

What a strange couple of years it has been, and the start of this academic year has not been without Covid repercussions. Despite absences and some restrictions due to the pandemic, the School managed to continue its daily life and staff were able to offer a wide range of extracurricular clubs, alongside teaching their normal lessons. Some staff even managed to teach from home, beaming in live to a classroom full of students.

As one would expect from a school such as this, the students have remained engaged throughout. The Common Room has remained a lively and friendly refuge from the hustle and bustle of the school day; a place where staff can sit and have a friendly chat or take part in the daily lunchtime quiz. We are very fortunate to be part of such a welcoming community.

At this time of year, we must also pay tribute to the staff who have left the School and welcome new members of the Common Room.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy, successful, and hopefully Covid-free year.

Liz Harris Chair of The Common Room

Dr Karen Flavell

by Rachel Young

Karen joined WGS in January 2003, a highly organised kind-hearted teacher who has helped nearly 450 students gain Biology GCSEs and 200 students an A Level. Karen is the most organised colleague in the department – thank you for your efficiency and forward thinking - it helped me significantly whenever you reminded me about the deadlines looming on the horizon.

Karen gave Year 7 students seeds to take home, allowing them to explore Biology beyond the laboratories – a reminder for them of her inspiration as these flowers grow and reseed in their gardens. Sixth Formers will miss her greatly and appreciate how she made such a difference to their progression in Biology.

Risk assessments play a crucial role in science to keep everyone safe. Karen was a member of the Health and Safety Committee and tested the extreme of these risk assessments over the years by walking into benches, chairs, and doors. Her most dangerous stunt was observed in room 60 as Karen entered head first, flying down the stairs and landing in a heap - the red and white tape at the top of these stairs is a permanent warning to all who enter room 60!

Karen was delighted to return her beloved iPad to IT – an iPad which had a mind of its own! Worries about technology were not just limited to iPads, they included video players, sound bars, dvd players and audio tape players! Signs decorate the walls in the department, detailing how to use various pieces of equipment and also outlining shortcuts for typing different symbols. These reflect Karen’s nature of wanting to always do her best. Every time she learned a new skill she wrote instructions in a brown notebook – I am not sure who she handed this over to!

Karen led a general knowledge team, taking two teams each year to Birmingham to compete. Students loved the General Knowledge Club so much so, that even when they were too old to compete, they requested to continue to attend. Karen has also keenly participated in educational trips alongside the Geography department.

Karen is a keen pianist and gardener and is hoping to get more time to enjoy the fruits of her labour. She is also a cat lover - I’m still not sure whether she used the distraction of her cat loudly purring to get a break from a regular check in phone call during lockdown – I guess I will never know!

On behalf of the Biology department and the rest of the Common Room, we wish Karen all the best in this next chapter of her life as she begins her retirement. Thank you, Karen, for your 18 years’ service to School.

Roberta Keys

by Tom Smith

What a year it has been: Coronavirus pandemic; Teacher Assessed Grades; welcoming Roberta, and saying farewell too!

Let me take you back to 2016: after being encouraged to start a Twitter account by the then Head, Kathy CreweRead, and well before the post in the department was vacant, the first and only follower I had was Roberta Keys! Nearly every day since then she kindly liked or retweeted my attempt at words of wisdom.

Every student will miss Roberta for her expert teaching. Roberta spends time finding out how each student is doing, tries to understand their weakness and constructs each lesson to meet their needs. She has contributed hugely to our resources and helped me with great patience and kindness to become a better Head of Department - for that I am extremely grateful.

STOP PRESS: I am delighted to announce that Roberta will be returning to teach at WGS in September 2022!

Alex Frazer

Scott Li

by Nick Brown

Scott Li joined Wolverhampton Grammar School in September 2018 having relocated to Birmingham from St Olave’s Grammar School in London. Scott soon became an important member of the Maths department by taking responsibility for overseeing the curriculum changes at A Level.

A very intelligent mathematician and an excellent teacher, there was a hive of activity in his classroom, with students working hard and always keen to learn more. The calm atmosphere fostered by Scott gave students, who had perhaps in the past found Maths challenging, a secure space to gain more confidence.

During Scott’s time at WGS he coached Sixth Formers for the Team Maths Challenges and after his first Walker Memorial Mile redeveloped his love of running. He was training towards a marathon and was close when the pandemic hit. Look out for him in the London Marathon very soon!

Sadly, for WGS, Scott’s need to work closer to his home was clear – as he and his wife Claudia welcomed baby Asher into the world. We wish him all the very best for the future and thank him for all his work and support during his time in the Maths department.

Stacey Jackson

by Joe David

Two and a half years ago WGS bid farewell to the legend that was Russell Charlesworth. Who would be the new Head of History? Who could replace such an academic titan? Who was this Head of Department that had plied her trade in prestigious international schools in Egypt and Armenia? And more to the point, why was she coming to Wolverhampton?

It didn’t take long for us to realise that Stacey was just what the History department needed. She swept away some of the cobwebs, quite literally when it came to the office. Stacey brought greater diversity to the History curriculum; she changed the exam board we use at IGCSE; updated our schemes of work; and even introduced a History department WhatsApp group. She worked exceptionally hard and brought energy and enthusiasm to work each day.

Stacey will be sorely missed by the students at WGS. Her teaching put great faith in them facilitating their own learning and challenging them to be creative. It speaks volumes that her opening gambit when first arriving at the School was to ask the students what sort of learner they are, and the style of teaching they prefer. She had a brilliant rapport with the kids who valued her humour, honesty, and passion for history.

Stacey steered the department through the upheaval of the Coronavirus pandemic with positivity. She was generous in sharing ideas and resources and handled the Teacher Assessed Grades process with a real calmness and serenity.

Stacey managed to fit two school trips into these troubled times. The first was an unforgettable trip to Lichfield Cathedral to hear the moving testimony of a Holocaust survivor. The second had slightly less intellectual gravitas and was a trip to the local curry house with the 2021 Upper Sixth leavers. Stacey left WGS to make her fortune. Health and happiness are what’s important in life and we wish her the best of luck for everything she does in the future.

Carrie came to us from the University of Birmingham bringing a wealth of experience in Marketing, Communications and Higher Education. Although new to independent schools, she wasted no time in immersing herself in our community, and soon grasped the essence of WGS. A talented wordsmith, she led a much needed re-branding exercise which saw us articulate the many strengths of the School for the first time. ‘An education as individual as your child’ captured the heart of our mission and was very much what Carrie believed we should be offering for our pupils.

Of course with a brief including communications and school image, there was little of WGS life that didn’t involve Carrie. She brought her expertise to bear on so many aspects of school from letters and publications to uniform. With a quick mind and sound judgement she made invaluable contributions to the School’s strategic plan and was an important member of SMT, playing an integral part in their success as Leadership Team of the Year 2018. She was, as many colleagues will remember, the go to ear-of-staff for much of her time at the School.

Determined to show that support staff were as integral a part of WGS as teachers, Carrie involved herself in all school life, from staff training to the extra curricular programme. She understood the needs for us to deliver high levels of customer service, spearheading the use of stakeholder surveys to improve both student and parent experience, and with the staff to ensure WGS was a great place to work. Whatever Carrie turned her hand to received 100% of her attention and energy.

A highly respected manager, confidant and a dear friend to all those within her team. Her passion to help students enjoy and improve their skills at debating, as well as enjoy the great outdoors at Gardening Club; she continually helped everyone thrive at WGS.

Carrie continues to enjoy her beloved garden and animals at home in the tranquil surroundings of Homer, Shropshire and looks forward to the next stage of daughter Rosie's life as she comes to the end of her education at WGS in Upper Sixth – a place that will forever be home to the fondest of memories; a home from home.

"Having been at WGS for 16 years, I have seen staff come and go, none of whom have left such an impression on me as Carrie. A true professional and an absolute pleasure to work with, she exuded energy and enthusiasm in everything she did. Over the years, she has supported me both professionally and personally and has become a valued friend. WGS will miss her dearly but she will leave a lasting impact on our school.

Although I won’t see her every day, I know we will remain good friends, and I will be continuing to ask her advice on all things vegetable related!"

Jane Morris, Admissions Registrar

"Thank you for how you improved life for everyone at School. I remember Gardening Club in the Junior School fondly but I can see all the times you have touched our lives at School."

Current Upper Sixth student

"Carrie is one of those people who makes every day brighter and better. A true professional who loved her job and the School. She is an individual who has made a huge difference in her role and touched so many lives at WGS. She will be sorely missed both as a person, but also in the job that she did so brilliantly. She is an inspiration to me and so many others. We wish her well."

Nic Anderson, Deputy Head

"Seeing you smiling all the time at people, since the day I joined in Year 7, is something many people appreciated, including me."

Current Lower Sixth student

"My introduction to Wolverhampton Grammar School began with the most heart-warming and friendly welcome. You were my first point of reference and representation of the School and I cannot thank you enough for your bubbly and friendly nature"

Current Upper Sixth student