Chronicle Summer 2024

37 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Rob Cottrell What do you do at Teddies and how long have you been here? I am currently Housemaster of Field House, having taken over in September of last year. I’ve been at Teddies for eight years, during which time I have taught Spanish, been Assistant Housemaster of Cowell’s for three years, Head of Rugby for five years, and Housemaster of Corfe for a term as maternity cover. Tell us about your career so far. Before coming to Teddies I worked at Sutton Valence School in Kent, a smaller co-ed day and boarding school in the idyllic countryside of Kent. I qualified there, studying for my PGCE at Buckingham University. Prior to that I lived and worked in London in executive search, focusing on European appointments in the real estate and financial services industries. What do you enjoy about working at St Edward’s? I believe that every teacher should have experience of a desk job - you then fully appreciate the incredible diversity and excitement of working at a school. No day is the same and you spend as much time outdoors as you do indoors which is so enjoyable. It’s incredibly busy and you are challenged in so many different ways it keeps you alive and alert. Which three words would you use to summarise the ethos of the School? Progressive, familiar and bold. What are your aspirations for the pupils in Field House? I hope to see the pupils of Field House learn to overcome their individual challenges and to leave the House as confident young adults who will look back at their time at Teddies with fondness and think ‘I did so much… and had a laugh’. What do you see as the benefits of co-educational Houses? Co-ed Houses prepare our pupils for life outside our community and foster a sense of respect and equity. How do you think Teddies’ location in Oxford benefits our pupils? Having access to the commercial, architectural, historical and academic delights of Oxford puts us in an enviable position. Our proximity to the Cotswolds and London is ideal for pupils and families alike. If only they could charter flights out of Oxford Airport... What is the best advice you’ve ever been given? My five-year-old daughter often tells me to “get a grip” which often works... What are you currently reading? Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking by Matthew Syed. It really shows that the best decisions are made when accepting and valuing the often-overlooked diversity of the people behind them.