Alice Lees (NÉE PARKER) BY ELLIOT READ
Alice joined Dulwich to teach Religion and Philosophy in January 2015 from Hampton School. She attended Durham University, where she achieved the top First in her year for Philosophy, and was accordingly awarded a university prize (an accolade that she does not share readily). There- after Alice resisted
her most indelible mark. As the work of the College (as all schools) has grown in this area, we are lucky to have been able to rely on Alice’s kindness, wisdom and pragma- tism in managing a range of pastoral cases. Her dealings with all constituents – parents, pupils, colleagues and beyond – have been characterised by a courtesy, clarity and generosity, and her lawyer’s eye and exceptional communication skills have been invaluable in our collec- tive navigation of an evolving regulatory framework. Alice has also brought a critical sense of perspective – and has shared the driest sense of humour. Above all, Alice has consistently placed the best interests of the pupils at the heart of all that she has done. Alice has balanced the demands of her work at the College with a busy family life (Arthur, Teddy and Fer- gus arriving during her time with us) together with visits to her own and Richard’s parents in the West Country, whilst maintaining an enviable level of personal fitness (Alice instituted a popular lunchtime running club and as part of this trained to complete an 80km ultramarathon on the South Downs). Having served the College and our pupils for almost a decade with her calmness, intelligence and kindness, Alice would say that it is the right moment for her to take a pause from her teaching and pastoral responsibilities, as she and her family move out of London to Salisbury. We thank Alice for the rich contribution that she has made to the academic and pastoral lives of the College, and, in wishing her the very best for the next chapter, hope that she will maintain the many friendships that she has fostered during her time here. ◉
the allure of a lucrative training contract at a Magic Circle law firm. Her decision to embark on a teaching qualifica- tion instead has proven to be to the great benefit of the very many pupils who have had the good fortune of being taught and cared for by her. A January joiner, Alice was not fazed by the prospect of picking up another colleague’s timetable, plus an Upper School tutor group halfway through the academic year, and did so with her characteristic grace and ‘can-do’ ap- proach. These traits, along with a teaching style that com- bines warmth with rigour, plus her breathtaking efficiency and productivity, meant that Alice was quickly promoted to an Acting Head of Year position in the Upper School. Such is Alice’s versatility, she subsequently secured a permanent role in Year 9 – focusing now on pupils joining, rather than leaving, the College – before being promoted to the position of Assistant Head Pastoral and Safeguard- ing. It is in this latter capacity where Alice has perhaps left
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