Sit Down with RHS: Recent Episodes
Royal Hospital School
Welcome to this new original series from the Royal Hospital School. This is the show where we pull back the curtain and sit down with RHS to give you a deeper understanding of how the school sets students up for success. In the first series, we're speaking to our young and impressive alumni to show how RHS gives pupils the skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions. We'll be hearing from diverse voices, from professional sportspeople and fashion designers to environmentalists and software engineers. Each one recounts stories of how RHS has shaped them into who they are today.
Today we're sitting down with Kerrie Finley, Head of Science, who joined the school three years ago. Her enthusiasm for physics and science, and engendering a love of every aspect in her pupils is totally infectious, so enjoy listening to her.
Today we talked to her about her childhood dreams to become a teacher, inspiring girls to pursue STEM, dressing up as Marie Curie for their inspirational women in science event, and also her first Duke of Edinburgh expedition, which ended up in snowy Scotland. Find out more about RHS's enviable reputation and academic support that allows every pupil to flourish.
Today we're sitting down with Leigh Corbould, head of Drake House, who joined the school eight years ago. His enthusiasm for the pastoral life, the school and how important he sees that as a role, is evident.
We talked to him about what it means to create community in his day house and how it's different to a traditional boarding house. What originally drew him to Royal Hospital School, his co curricular commitments and what his experience is in his unique position as a parent. Both his children have actually been through the school. So find out more about RHS enviable reputation for its pastoral support that allows every student to flourish.
Today we're sitting down with Oliver Millington, Head of Design and Technology, who joined the school nine years ago. Ollie's palpable enthusiasm for design technology has helped the subject develop and embrace new technologies, giving rise to their excellent academic results.
We talked to him about the skills that pupils learn as they experiment and create in their lessons, the wide range of clubs, including the electric kit car club, his passion for food and cooking, and how he originally made the decision to train as a teacher. Find out more about RHS enviable reputation for its DT offering and the different facilities on site.
Today we're sitting down with Barty Hills, Head of Rugby and Assistant Housemaster at RHS. Barty is a former pupil and sports scholar at RHS, where he played rugby, football and cricket, and was captain of the first rugby team.
We talk to Barty about what life was like for him at school, why he switched degrees, how he coped with a brain tumour diagnosis, what motivated him to set up a charity rugby sevens team, and most importantly, how a luxury super yacht played a part in bringing him back to RHS...
Today we're sitting down with Edward Allen, Director of Music. Now in his 8th year, Edward oversees the day-to-day running of RHS's large and vibrant music school, alongside a team of almost 30 staff.
RHS is proud to boast an outstanding provision for musicians of all abilities and style, and, with its unique naval heritage, the department is also home to a ceremonial marching band. We talk to Ed about RHS's expansive music provision, the opportunities pupils have to perform at high profile events, their overseas tours, what happens in Congo every Saturday morning, their upcoming house shout, and how he had to wait until his feet could touch the pedals before learning the organ!
Today we're sitting down with Ed Sibson, Head of Sailing, who leads the sailing provision at RHS. He has coached many school and university team races and is actively involved in training and assessing dinghy instructors and race coaches. We talk to him about RHS's expansive sailing provision and global reputation, why all Year 7's experience a week of sailing in their first term, the strategies needed for team racing, and which would be his desert island boat if he could only pick one!
Today we're sitting down with Harriet Barber, Head of Art. Harriet oversees and leads the art provision at RHS. She worked for the Medici Society and the Royal Society of British Sculptors in London, before training as a teacher.
We talk to her about the school's expansive arts offering , the incredible art installations she masterminds each year, the concept of kitchen sink painting with Year seven, and most importantly, the power of art to generate creative and innovative pathways.
Today we're sitting down with Nick Platt, Director of Sport.
Nick leads all aspects of sports provision at RHS and has over 25 years of experience coaching and mentoring pupils across a variety of sports, from recreational through to the elite level. We talk to him about the challenges of today's fixtures, how he missed getting a cap as a teenager, what led him to become a school teacher and his ambitions for the sporting life of Royal Hospital School.
Find out more about the school's focus on their broad sports program which caters for pupils of all abilities and engenders in them a love of activity.
Today we are sitting down with Brian Martineau, Assistant Head (Co-Curricular) at RHS. Brian is also known as Captain Fun and as you listen to him enthuse about the expansive co-curricular offering at RHS, you’ll soon understand why.
We talk to him about his love of music and adventure, and how he ended up playing the trombone in the school’s marching band. Find out more about the school's focus on opportunities and activities for all their pupils and how they support and develop their academic success.
Today we are sitting down with Cat Stevens, who has been Deputy Head Academic at RHS for the past seven years. Cat wholeheartedly embraces the RHS philosophy to help pupils find and develop their passions through a wide range of academic and co-curricular options. We talk to Cat about the difference she has made to the academic aspiration and achievement of our pupils and what future skills our pupils will need to develop.
We also find out about how the school’s focus on improving our global awareness, sustainability and citizenship has been deployed across the curriculum and the impact that is having on our community.
Plus, as a very able athlete herself we discover how she shares her passion for netball, athletics and board games! Get ready for an inspiring journey as we explore these topics together with Cat as our knowledgeable guide.
Today we are sitting down with Dan Coleman, the Head of English as an Additional Language at RHS. Dan supports all our international pupils whose English is not their first language and makes a huge impact on them as they navigate their journey at RHS. Global awareness and citizenship is a key focus for the school and we talk to Dan about his key role in how we can develop as a community in this important area.
Dan's journey to RHS was unexpected - he grew up surrounded by the sound of the RHS bells but never did he imagine working there. Initially aspiring to be a magazine journalist, Dan soon realised his true passion: teaching, oh and kickboxing.
He embarked on a remarkable adventure, spending years travelling and teaching in five different countries, impacting on the lives of individuals from over 60 nations. Through his experiences, Dan has come to the conclusion (nearly 13 years later) that there is no place like RHS for him to pursue his love for teaching English as an Additional Language.
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship, so we will hear how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
In this inspiring interview, we hear from Isabel and Luca, school prefects (2022-2023), about how they have led the pupil element of the schools' wellbeing initiative this year. Their input as members of the wellbeing change team has led RHS to achieve the prestigious Optimus Wellbeing Award. Find out how they have also been involved in growing global awareness amongst the pupil body and supporting their school community to become better global citizens.
Make sure you head on over to follow RHS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter or YouTube for the latest news and goings on in the RHS community.
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship. So we'll hear how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
Today we are sitting down with Deputy Bursar, John Reid, a key member of the RHS community who has many responsibilities to do with the RHS estate and its operations. We hear about John’s journey through the school, and the variety of roles he’s taken over the years; from his involvement in the recent ‘excellent in all areas’ inspection of the school to his distinguished career in the royal air force and how he came to be awarded an OBE!
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship, so we'll hear how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
Today we are sitting down with Simone Rossouw, a former pupil who is working to improve sustainability in the fashion industry. We hear about her journey from RHS to this point in her career, and her passion to make a difference — not only in the fashion arena, but also to inspire the next generation of change makers. She also includes some top tips on how you can make a difference to the sustainability of our planet.
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the royal hospital school where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship, so we'll hear how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
Today we are going a little off-piste from our Global theme this year, to find out more about 'Launching 100 Lives', a transformational bursary campaign launched by RHS. We are sitting down with Lauren Bayliss-Fuller, a former pupil, who re-joined RHS last year as the Head of Community & Alumni Relations. We hear about her involvement in the 'Launching 100 Lives Bursarial Campaign', which seeks to transform the lives of 100 children by 2033, and how emotionally driven she is to involve the whole RHS community in achieving this ambitious aim. We also find out how her team works with former pupils and parents to support the career aspirations of our pupils, plus what she gets up to out of school to maintain that important work/life balance.
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship, so we'll be hearing how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
Today, we're sitting down with Matt Routledge, Director of Learning at RHS who is the man in charge of all things teaching and learning, including staff development and keeping abreast of the latest educational research. In this wide ranging interview, we hear what drew him from his home in Lancashire down to RHS, how he's bringing issues of global awareness into the school, and what he gets up to out of school.
Head on over to follow RHS on Facebook or Instagram for the latest news and make sure you hit that subscribe button so you never miss an episode.
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship, so we'll be hearing how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
Today we're sitting down with Fabio Zoffi, a high-tech serial entrepreneur and RHS parent, who generously hosted a three-day entrepreneurship workshop for our pupils here atRHS. We hear what attracted his family to RHS, how he led this fabulous hands-on experience of modern entrepreneurship, the importance of being a ‘glocalist’, and his ambition to empower 1 billion small entrepreneurs by 2040.
Hello and welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we open the school doors to get to know members of the RHS community. This academic year, we're focussing on the theme of Global Awareness and Citizenship, so we will hear how the school community is growing in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
In this brilliant interview, we hear from Isabella and Toby, heads of school (2022-2023) about how they throw themselves into school life, from Toby's passion for Latin and science to Isabella's energy for the arts.
Make sure you head on over to follow RHS on Facebook or Instagram for the latest news and goings on with the RHS family.
A new academic year heralds a new series for #SitDownWithRHS. We continue to get to know members of our RHS community, but with a particular theme. The school focus for the year is Global Awareness and Citizenship, focussing on how the school community can continue to grow in areas of global diversity, inclusivity, sustainability and awareness of global issues.
Are you wondering how the school approaches environmental responsibility? And intrigued to find out more about the schools Eco Committee?
Harriet Izod-Miller is here today to share all. Harriet is the head of sixth form, previously head of the two times award winning geography department, and a big outdoors enthusiast — leading a recent geography trip to Iceland!
Please follow RHS on Facebook or Instagram for the latest news and goings on with the RHS family. And hit that subscribe button on your podcast player of choice. Thanks for tuning in.
We have a great interview for you today, with Steve Dixon, Deputy Headmaster at RHS. We hear where his passion for teaching originated from, what inspired him to join RHS and his involvement in key initiatives such as Pupil Voice, Student Council and our pupil-led Diversity Committee. And as usual, we like to find out a little about the person behind the role, so we hear about what Steve gets up to outside of work. And if you're a Strictly fan, you'll want to listen in.
We have a great interview for you today, with Aidan and Beverly Maloney, who are husband and wife House Parents at Blake House, the dedicated House for Year 7 pupils and our Junior Boarding House. Being parents themselves, they really understand the challenges pupils face with the transition from Year 6 to 7. Today they're answering all the questions prospective parents might have about their children starting senior school, and how they make Blake House such a welcoming place to start senior school life at RHS. Plus other interesting titbits like what it's like working with your other half and why they love teaching so much at RHS.
In this episode, we're sitting down with Zoë King, Deputy Head - Pastoral, to hear all about her role overseeing pastoral care and boarding at the school. If you want to hear all about the emotional wellbeing of the pupils, then listen on.
We hear some great anecdotes from Zoë, such as how she ensured students felt connected to the school during lockdown, how she kept a close eye on student wellbeing during lockdown, and what she believes to be the secret behind the amazing confidence of students at RHS.
In this episode, we're sitting down with another two Y13s to hear about their life at RHS and ambitions for the future.
First we have Archie, a school prefect and rugby player who has just signed a professional contract with Northampton Saints - an incredible achievement, following a long line of top athletes coming from RHS, congratulations Archie. He joined RHS in Y7 and is keen at all sports, including hockey, and cricket.
We are also joined by Rachael who joined RHS in Year 7. Rachael has had 3 older siblings go through the school, including Jonathan Ilori who we interviewed in episode 1, so be sure to check that one out. Rachel is deputy head girl and head scholar, which means she is most enthusiastic about academics - she write in magazines and did very well in her GCSEs. Rachel plays 1st team netball and she loves athletics.
In this episode, we hear an interesting fact about the military association with the school, we talk about the wonderful world of herbal remedies as Rachael explored in her EPQ, we hear about the links between the CCF and the rugby pitch, and about singing in St Paul's cathedral. What wonderful acoustics that must have been.
In this episode, we're sitting down with two Y13s to give us a taste of what life is like at RHS for those studying for their A Levels.
First we have Yeknaz who joined RHS for the Sixth Form from a state school in London on a full scholarship with the Springboard Charitable Foundation. We hear about her ambitions of becoming a family lawyer so she can lend a helping hand to those who need it.
And we will also be joined by Joel who joined RHS in Year 9 from another local independent school, mainly due to the sports and academic provision. And we hear about Joel's links with both philosophy and the military, which is an intriguing combination.
In this hugely informative and wide ranging interview with the two, we hear about the sports tutors provided by the school to support the sports scholars balance the dual pressures of academic and sporting life. We hear a little about the school news platform called Bubble where students can write and publish their own articles.
Welcome back to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we talk to staff, pupils and the alumni to find out how the school makes a unique impact to young people's lives.
Now in this episode, we're sitting down with Deborah Sweeney, Sister in charge of the medical centre at RHS and long standing member of the school community.
She has played a pivotal role during one of the most challenging times in the school's history. And she has a justified passion for the school, having seen four of her children through the school as a parent as well. We hear some great stories, such as her time trawling the internet to find the right guidance for children travelling to many different countries over the Christmas holidays. We hear about her amazing health care team at RHS, and the involvement of the many parents in different aspects of school life.
Enjoy this episode with Deborah Sweeney, Sister in charge at RHS.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we talk to staff, pupils and the alumni to find out how the school makes a unique impact to young people's lives.
In this episode, we're sitting down with Sebastian Kempe, student at the Royal Hospital School who is making waves, quite literally in the youth sailing championships.
We talk to him about his recent win in Oman at the world youth sailing championships, and why a solid education is key to his dream of competing at the highest level. And we learn about some of his superstitions that he absolutely must do before a race. You would never guess what they are.
Welcome back to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we talk to staff, pupils and the alumni to find out how the school makes a unique impact to young people's lives.
Now in this episode, we're sitting down with Mr Simon Lockyer, Headmaster of the Royal Hospital School.
We talk with him about the stunning backdrop that the school campus provides to the staff and pupils, the alumni who continue to inspire so many of the pupils young and old, and what he enjoys doing when he's at home with his family.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life how the school makes a unique impact to young people's lives.
In this series, we've been sitting down with members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - giving them the full range of life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We've heard from a whole range of different members of the alumni. We've heard from a university lecturer, designer, paralympian, tech entrepreneur, veterinary surgeon, actress, and england cricketer.
But today, we're sitting down with Jaz and Bruce, who are currently heads of school at RHS. In this brilliant interview, we hear about their amazing successes, both in school and out. From Jazz's sold out show that she wrote and directed to Bruce's incredibly fast language learning skills. I love how Bruce share his love of maths and how Jaz describes the support she's getting from teachers.
I don't want to give too much away, but trust me, this one will leave you inspired. I'll hand over to your host, Arabella Northey speaking to Heads of School, Jaz and Bruce.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life how the school makes a unique impact on young people's lives.
In this series, we're chatting to members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - not just academically, but how it's given them the life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from a whole range of different members of the alumni. We've heard from an athlete, a singer and actress, an artist, a para-olympian, an environmental engineer, and we've got a whole lot more wonderful people to come.
Today, we're sitting down with Robert Clarke, an author, trainer and visiting lecturer specialising in business continuity. Robert's work has been in the spotlight recently with the pandemic, and his book 'Business Continuity and the Pandemic Threat' became an overnight bestseller. We hear more about what business continuity entails. We hear how Robert recalls the teachers at RHS as being such an inspiration to him. And we hear about the novel ways Robert made money while still at school.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life how the school makes a unique impact on young people's lives.
In this series, we're sitting down with members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - and not just on the academic side, but the full range of life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We're hearing from a whole range of different members of the alumni. We've heard from an athlete, a singer and actress, an artist, a para-olympian, an environmental engineer, and we've got a whole lot more wonderful people to come.
Today, we're sitting down with George Hockley, Veterinary Surgeon, who graduated from RHS in 2012, where he was an Academic Scholar and who is now a Rotating Intern at the University of Glasgow. In this conversation, we hear how George got into being a Vet, why he believes it is such a great career, giving so much variety, and what he learnt from marching alongside his friends on a Sunday at school.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life how the school makes a unique impact on young people's lives.
In this series, we're sitting down with members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - and not just on the academic side, but the full range of life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We're hearing from a whole range of different members of the alumni. We've heard from an athlete, a singer and actress, an artist, a para-olympian, an environmental engineer, and we've got a whole lot more wonderful people to come.
Today, we're sitting down with Jack Beamen, tech entrepreneur, angel investor and CEO at Indeed Flex. Jack left RHS in 2005, went on to work at a startup, and then used that experience to start a new business in the temporary staffing sector. We hear what Jack most enjoyed about his time at RHS, particularly why it was the ideal environment to flex his entrepreneurial muscles. This is a particularly interesting discussion for any aspiring entrepreneurs out there.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - a podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life how the school makes a unique impact to young people's lives.
In this series, we're sitting down with members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - and not just on the academic side, but the full range of life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We're hearing from a whole range of different members of the alumni. We've heard from an athlete, a singer and actress, an artist, a para-olympian, an environmental engineer, and we've got a whole lot more wonderful people to come.
Today, we're sitting down with Reece Topley, England cricketer, and RHS Alumni, who we got to talk to while he was quarantining in Abu Dhabi before the T20 World Cup. Reece gives a fantastic interview, sharing an honest account of the highs and lows of being a professional sportsman. We hear how he started his cricket career whilst at RHS, with the fearlessness of being young, and the hunger and determination to play at the highest level. We hear about the incredible comeback he's made from numerous injuries to his back. And we hear how it all started, messing around with his mates at RHS and just having a bit of fun.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - an exciting new podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life the unique impact the school makes to young people's lives.
In this series, we're chatting to members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - not just academically, but how it's given them the life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from professional sportspeople and fashion designers to environmentalists and software engineers.
In this episode, we're sitting down with Kate Somerset Holmes, performer in the west end and globe-trotting country music singer. We hear about her illustrious career in the performing arts since leaving RHS, and how the opportunities at the school let her theatrical talents flourish. I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging and candid conversation and may it inspire you to also grab hold of every opportunity that life throws at you as Kate has done.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - an exciting new podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life the unique impact the school makes to young people's lives.
In this series, we're chatting to members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - not just academically, but how it's given them the life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from professional sportspeople and fashion designers to environmentalists and software engineers.
In this episode, we're sitting down with Annalise Matthews, an alumni member who's now saving the planet with compostable food packaging. We hear what she's working on now, how the teachers gave her confidence to ask questions throughout her career, and how the range of activities gave her such a rich start to life.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - an exciting new podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life the unique impact the school makes on young people's lives.
In this series, we're chatting to members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - not just academically, but how it's given them the life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from an actor, an actress, a singer, an entrepreneur, an artist, a veterinary surgeon and more.
Today, we're sitting down with 3 x World Champion and 4 x Paralympian, Hannah Stodel. This is a truly inspirational chat with one of the UK's finest athletes. We hear how RHS supported her while she competed at school, even sitting down for an exam on a ferry! We'll hear about her ambition to make history in the 2024 Vendée globe race like Ellen McArthur did , and how she still makes her bed within an inch of its life - old habits die hard! This is a fantastic interview - please enjoy!!
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - an exciting new podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life the unique impact the school makes to young people's lives.
In this series, we're chatting to members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - not just academically, but how it's given them the life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from professional sportspeople and fashion designers to environmentalists and software engineers.
In this episode, we're sitting down with Freya Richmond, a talented designer who immersed herself in the world of textile design whilst at RHS, and then later at University and now into a blossoming career. We hear some sterling career advice from Freya about succeeding in the creative industries, why the teachers at RHS gave her such a great head start for University, and how a lockdown textiles project has grown into an exciting new business.
Welcome to Sit Down with RHS - an exciting new podcast from the Royal Hospital School where we bring to life the unique impact the school makes to young people's lives.
In this series, we're chatting to members of the alumni to hear how RHS set them up for success - not just academically, but how it's given them the life skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from an actor, actress, a singer, an entrepreneur, an artist, a veterinary surgeon and more.
Today, we're sitting down with Jonathan Ilori, a pro athlete specialising in the triple jump, long jump and sprinting. We hear how the wide range of activities at RHS helped him avoid burning out in triple jump, what goes through his head before he jumps, and how he's working towards a big season next year. We also hear how he's made an impressive comeback from injury to secure an impressive 4th Place at the Olympic Trials.
Welcome to this new original series, coming soon from the Royal Hospital School.
This is the show where we will pull back the curtain and sit down with RHS to give you a deeper understanding of how the school sets students up for success.
In this series, we're speaking to our young and impressive alumni to show how RHS gives pupils the skills, confidence and resilience to thrive and follow their ambitions.
We'll be hearing from diverse voices, from professional sportspeople and fashion designers to environmentalists and software engineers. Each one recounts stories of how RHS has shaped them into who they are today.
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