St Edward's Chronicle Summer 2018

27 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Yvette Ramadharsingh What do you do at Teddies and how long have you been at the School? I joined Teddies in 2015. I was Head of Economics and Deputy Housemistress in Mac’s until the end of term. From September, I’ll be Housemistress in Avenue. Where were you before? I was at Dover College for eight years, as Head of Economics and Business Studies, and a Deputy Housemistress. What are you most looking forward to about becoming a Housemistress? Getting to know a group of pupils really well. Maintaining a happy home-from- home. Making sure everyone does themselves justice (and does everyone else justice too!). Name some highlights from your Teddies career so far. My favourite events are the House Singing contest and Shell Plays for which the Lower Sixth take a leadership role, and it is lovely to see both of these groups working together to create something fun and thoughtful. Other highlights include developing the Oppenheimer Society for Economics, the challenges of Theory of Knowledge in the IB, and spirited debate in the staff common room. What do you see as the benefits of co-education? It almost seems too obvious to say. Men and women live and work together in the world, so surely it’s right to share our strengths and learn to understand and respect each other’s viewpoints from the get-go. What do you most enjoy about working at a school in Oxford? Location. Location. Location! We’re in one of the world’s greatest university cities with all its culture and energy – and we’re part of it. And we’re just an hour from one of the world’s most celebrated capital cities. What are you most looking forward to in the Quad Development? It is such an exciting time for the Teddies community. It will be a fantastic space for celebrating the work that we do here, integrating study and assembly and resources. Did you enjoy your schooldays? I loved my school days. I still have strong friendship groups all the way from primary to university that play an essential role in my life. I also became a teacher because I had lots of positive examples of the ways in which a teacher can affect your life. What was the naughtiest thing you did at school? Convinced my entire class that there was no Economics lesson and started a game of cricket in the back playground instead. We were caught, but in the end my teacher saw the humour and joined in. What would be your Desert Island book? A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. Make time for it; it will keep you company for the rest of your life! Best advice you’ve ever been given? Expect much of yourself and others, and be generous and understanding. What are your ambitions for your Avenue pupils? That they achieve their goals, and enjoy contributing to society. That they are happy and kind and outward-looking, love life, and have learned the strength of friendship and community. That they have this to support and nurture them all the days of their lives.