Inma Fernandez ‐ Hughes
Gill Cox Gill joined Queen’s in September 2017, where her incredible work ethic was
A ft er 12 unforge tt able years at Queen’s — and 30 years of inspiring young minds — we say goodbye to a teacher who has le ft an indelible mark on our school community. From her very fi rst day, Inma brought not only a deep love for the Spanish language but also a spark of crea ti vity and warmth that transformed her
evident from the start as she immersed herself in the life of the Chemistry Department. She brought lots of energy and many new ideas to the role, with students quickly recognising her commitment and bene fi ti ng greatly from her teaching. Gill has been a superb form tutor, always suppor ti ng her tutees fully, from pastoral issues to end of term snacks. When a vacancy arose as Head of Department, Gill stepped up and poured her energy into the role, fully embracing the leadership. She has pushed the department forward, con ti nually evolving the provision for our exam students, as well as developing enthusiasm and inves ti ga ti ve skills in our younger pupils through science club. Her love of teaching is clear, as is her compassion for students and sta ff . No job is too small, and her a tt en ti on to detail is such that it allows every student the best opportunity to shine. Gill will be sorely missed in the Chemistry Department, but also in the wider school community, where her insigh tf ul contribu ti ons have been very e ff ec ti ve. We wish her all the very best for the future.
classroom into a place of joy, curiosity, and excellence. She made the language come alive in lessons, whether through songs, videos, role ‐ plays and food tas ti ng. A highlight was when she had Year 10 students wri ti ng le tt ers to Spanish tourist informa ti on o ffi ces — and the delight on the students’ faces when real replies arrived, complete with brochures and postcards! Her care and dedica ti on extended far beyond the classroom. She spent countless hours running one ‐ to ‐ one sessions and transla ti on clinics, always ensuring her pupils had the support they needed to thrive. Her high expecta ti ons, paired with her warmth and approachability, brought out the very best in every pupil. Inma’s valuable input and sugges ti ons have strongly contributed to a thriving Spanish department. She was the driving force behind the popular Salamanca immersion trip, where students not only prac ti ced their Spanish but also experienced the culture fi rsthand. Her Sixth Form students will remember fondly their cultural visits with Inma, from a fl amenco show in Liverpool to a theatre representa ti on of Lorca’s play ‘La casa de Bernarda Alba in London – both events preceded by a tapas dinner, of course. Inma’s legendary cooking skills made her way into Queen’s through the many delicious cakes that she shared with both pupils and sta ff . Not only that, but she also brought her lessons on Spanish gastronomy to life for her A ‐ level students by teaching them how to cook Spanish omele tt e and paella – remarkably, she even managed to do this via Zoom during lockdown! This is one of the many ways in which she ins ti lled in students a passion for the Hispanic language and culture. Inma’s impact on Queen’s has been profound, and she leaves behind a legacy of excellence, crea ti vity, and care. She will be deeply missed by pupils, parents, and sta ff alike. She now steps into a well ‐ earned break from teaching, hoping to dedicate ti me to her family, her dog Harvey and her home renova ti on projects.
Deborah Hopson Debbie joined Queen’s in November 2012 and was a very valuable asset to the cleaning team — always taking the ti me to smile and be there for everyone. Nothing was ever too much trouble for her. She worked closely within the Lower School team, and they all looked a ft er each other like a li tt le family.
Debbie’s sense of humour kept us all laughing and smiling while she was with us. The areas she looked a ft er were always maintained to her very high standards. Outside of Queens, her life revolves around her family — her children and grandchildren — with Debbie as the queen herself. She will be sadly missed, but we wish her all the best as she becomes a full ‐ti me Queen to her family now.
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