Fond Farewells
In the RGS Times this week, we bid a fond farewell to Teaching staff who are leaving RGS Worcester at the end of this Trinity term. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work and commitment and wish them the very best for the future.
Bennet Ager – Teacher of History
Mr Bennet Ager joined the History & Politics Department three years ago and has made a magnificent contribution to the work of the Department. Not only has he taught History throughout the School, but he has also led the teaching of the A Level UK Politics paper for the last two years. Passionate about oracy, he has introduced elements of reading tasks into his lessons and always approaches our Schemes of Work from new angles and with new ideas. He has also overseen the further growth of the School’s Debating Society. We wish Mr Ager all the best in his move to Birmingham; he will be much missed.
Thomas Benham – Cricket Coach
Mr Tom Benham joined us in September 2022 on a part-time basis, balancing his RGS coaching responsibilities with his studies. He brought with him a wealth of knowledge and experience across various sports, with a particular passion for Cricket, where he excels both as a player and coach. From the outset, Tom made a significant impact on our Girls’ Cricket programme. By September 2023, he became a full-time member of our Sports department and has worked tirelessly to increase participation in Girls’ Cricket and create exciting opportunities for our leading players. While we are sad to see him leave, we wish him the best of luck in his new adventure as he moves to London.
Hannah Black – Teacher of Maths
Despite only being at RGS for two years, Miss Hannah Black will certainly leave a positive impact on the School. Her positive demeanour is evident throughout the School, with her enthusiasm for Mathematics inspiring pupils across all Year groups. Miss Black was instrumental in the implementation of the AQA Further Mathematics GCSE qualification with her taking the first group of pupils through the qualification this year. She has also become very involved in many Co-curricular activities, such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and Dance Club. Hannah will be moving on to teach at Haberdashers’ Adams Grammar School which is nearer to her family. We wish her all the best in her future career.
Hannah Bone – Teacher of English
Miss Hannah Bone leaves RGS this year to continue her teaching career at St. John’s School Birmingham. During her time at School, Miss Bone has taught across the age groups and has led the Shakespeare English Speaking Union group. She has really fostered a love for performing Shakespeare with a succession of talented and enthusiastic Lower School pupils. In each year of Miss Bone’s time overseeing the Shakespeare ESU group, pupils from RGS have qualified for the Regional Finals, and there are now more members of the group than ever before. This is due to Miss Bone’s enthusiasm and unflagging energy. Miss Bone has combined her teaching with work for an MA in Shakespeare Studies at The University of Birmingham. She has used this knowledge and expertise to add new dimensions to the teaching of Shakespearean Drama within the English Department. A well-respected colleague and teacher, it is with real regret that we say goodbye to Miss Bone, whose talent and skills in the classroom will be sorely missed by those who benefited from her teaching.
Luke Cedar – Performing Arts Assistant
Mr Luke Cedar attended RGS Sixth Form in September 2021, having moved back to the UK from living abroad for several years. His passion for the Performing Arts was evident from very early on and, as well as performing in School productions, he was received a Drama Scholarship in the Upper Sixth. Luke is a musician and has a passion for playing guitar, performing frequently in RGS concerts. He will be continuing his study of Music when he starts his 3 year course at BIM in London after the summer. Luke has been invaluable in both the Music and Drama Departments as a Performing Arts Assistant this year and has used his skills in technical and design, running a band club, and playing at a number of concerts. He will be missed, and we wish him the very best of luck.
Sally Houchin – Teacher of English
After ten years at RGS, we bid a very fond farewell to Mrs Sally Houchin who leaves us to lead her own tutoring business. Sally first joined us with a wealth of experience and was initially employed with the specific role of working with new pupils from the former St Mary’s Convent School, Worcester. What was a fixed year role turned into a permanent position, in which Sally has enjoyed teaching across all Key Stages in the English Department. Throughout her time at RGS, she has raised the profile of reading through her leadership of the Lower School Book Clubs. These are immensely popular and pupil numbers have increased each year. Sally has been instrumental in promoting a love of reading and has given so many pupils a space to enjoy literature beyond the classroom. Within the wider School community, Sally has held an Assistant Head of Year post where her excellent rapport with pupils continued. Widely popular and recognised throughout the School community, Sally has endeared herself to the entire RGS Family. We wish her all the very best as we say goodbye to the Houchin family – Sally, Richard, Max and Alex.
David Perry – Teacher of History
Mr David Perry only joined us in September, arriving as the maternity cover for Dr Davison, and very quickly settled into the busy life of the School. An experienced teacher, David’s calm manner and hard work soon saw the pupils respond positively to his History teaching. Over the last three terms, he has also supported the School Chess Club and CCF and he has helped out with Fencing. As a History & Politics Department, we have really enjoyed working with him, and we are pleased that he will remain a part of the RGS Family, moving up the road to teach History at RGS Dodderhill.
Andrew Rattenbury – Head of Economics and Business
Mr Andrew Rattenbury leaves us as Head of Business & Economics, although he has taught English, Drama, History, Geography and Religious Studies in his 12 years at RGS Worcester. Despite the wide range of subjects and the frequent classroom changes, Andrew has always displayed a calm, good-humoured and totally professional approach to teaching. He co-led academic enrichment trips to the United States and was always keen to bring the real world into his teaching. He introduced the Business CTEC course, which has been a huge success and is now embedded within the Sixth Form curriculum. Andrew is well-liked and respected by colleagues and pupils alike, who recognise that he is someone who always puts people first, supporting and encouraging the pupils he has taught. He has also been an excellent Sixth Form Tutor and a successful EPQ Co-ordinator. Andrew is leaving us to take on a leadership role within his church, and our loss will be very much their gain.
Hugh Sykes – Teacher of Biology
Mr Hugh Sykes joined RGS in September 2005 as Head of Sixth Form. At that time, RGS had recently become co-educational with a predominantly male staff. By his second year, the merger with the Alice Ottley School was announced and completed in September 2007. Despite the changes, Hugh adapted seamlessly, ensuring the needs of staff and students were met. He introduced academic tracking systems and a Friday catch-up club, reinforcing the importance of deadlines and a positive work ethic.
After the Head of Middle School retired, Hugh took on the role, now overseeing three Year groups instead of two. He successfully managed the transition to a fully co-educational Middle School. He also became Head of PHSCE, helping pupils develop essential life skills. He even took on the post of Educational Visits Coordinator. Hugh initiated and ran the Lower School Water Sports trip and coordinated the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants’ afternoon tea party for the local Almshouses.
After going part-time, Hugh focused upon his Biology teaching while also supporting School trips and particularly the CCF RN Section.
Hugh’s ukulele playing became legendary, and he even started a club for like-minded pupils. Many fond rumours exist about him, such as starting a flash mob at Christmas lunch and convincing a GCSE class of a lockdown with a PowerPoint siren.
Hugh was more than just a Biology teacher; he provided profound insights into the world. His kindness, generosity, and dedication has left a lasting impact on RGS. Former Senior Master Nigel Lowson summed it up: “I do remember his kindness, his generosity towards all others, his care of and hope for pupils and his self-sacrifice.” After 19 years of loyalty and service to RGS, he has decided to retire; we will miss Hugh and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.
Ben Tanner – Teacher of Classics, Examinations Officer
Mr Ben Tanner has taught at RGS Worcester for 13 years having joined the School in 2011. During his time at the School, he has taught Latin or Classics and even Greek to thousands of pupils from Year Seven up to Sixth Form, sharing his passion for his subjects and making an indelible impact on each pupil in his care. As Head of the Department, Ben grew the Classical subjects from small beginnings to large subjects,
More recently, Ben has served as the School’s Examinations Officer, overseeing Public Examinations at GCSE and A Level, and he has been an extremely passionate, enthusiastic Sports coach, taking teams in Hockey and Football during the winter terms over the years. His particular interest lies in Cricket and he has spent many Saturdays with RGS Cricket teams at fixtures, imparting his expertise in, and love for, the sport. He has been an excellent colleague, and we are all grateful for his camaraderie, his support, and his good humour. He will be very greatly missed by staff and students alike: ‘atque in perpetuum, ave atque vale’.
Jake Tottman – Sports Graduate
Mr Jake Tottman departs RGS Worcester to embark on a new journey in another Graduate Sports Assistant role at Brentwood School, relocating closer to home in Essex. Jake joined us in September after graduating from The University of Bath. During his time at RGS, he has enjoyed coaching a range of sports including Rugby, Football, Cricket, and Basketball. He has made an impact on our pupils, inspiring them through his enthusiasm and interest in all sports. We are grateful for his contribution and wish him all the best in the future.
Rachael Wells – Teacher of Geography
Mrs Rachael Wells very kindly agreed to step in for a term when Chloe Bishop left RGS at Christmas 2023. Rachael was the former Head of Geography at RGS who left in August 2022. Her knowledge and experience of the School, as well as her superb Geography knowledge and teaching have been hugely appreciated. We are also very grateful for her flexibility when she agreed to extend her stay to cover the Trinity term in the Geography Department. We have particularly welcomed her experience in the NEA with the Lower Sixth; she has gone above and beyond to help students under her guidance. We wish Rachael all the best as she returns to trampolining coaching full-time again but kindly remains ‘on call’ for the Department in the future.
