Sheilagh Rawlins
Department
Skills Development
Contact information
Telephone: +44 (0)1280 818324
Email: srawlins@stowe.co.uk
Life before Stowe
I used to be employed as a computer programmer but I gave up work completely when my first daughter was born. Some years later I was invited to join our local primary school to assist some 6 year olds who were struggling with literacy difficulties. That was my first encounter with special educational needs and it opened my eyes to a whole world of learning difficulties that I’d never known existed. I migrated to a comprehensive secondary school and then on to the remarkable environment of Stowe.
What do you enjoy most about your subject?
I love the personal interaction I have with Stoics, both in the classroom and on a one-to-one basis, especially as I see them several times a day, across a range of subjects. One-to-one sessions in the Skills Department can be very rewarding when a student starts to show real progress.
What do you enjoy most about Stowe?
Stoics are typically colourful and charming characters! I’ve worked alongside some wonderfully interesting young people and I never know quite what the day is going to bring.
What is your favourite Lesson?
I’m very lucky to be in an assortment of lessons all week. It’s difficult to pick a favourite but I think watching chemistry teachers exploding things is always very exciting. There is, of course, the day Mr Akam stood on his desk, poured custard powder on to a Bunsen burner on the floor and the resulting flame shot up so high it singed his hair. The smell will live on in my memory forever!
What do others say about you?
I think Stoics perceive me as quite strict in the classroom. But they also know that I’ll help them as much as I can when they’re stuck.
Passions
I’m a keen sax player and I have my own family jazz quartet. I also love to dance and was very competitive in my youth. A large amount of my time is spent running around after my own children and I’m committed to a very lively church in Milton Keynes.