Mrs R. Slade BA, MA, PhD

Head of Boarding

I have arrived at Thornlow from an all-girls boarding school in Surrey, where I worked as a Housemistress for two years. Before this, I worked in the Development Office at King's College in Taunton, where I was also a House Tutor.

I have switched back and forth from working in Boarding Schools and being a student - in 2010 I completed a PhD in Contemporary British Theatre Practice at Loughborough University. I am also a keen musician, with a DipABRSM in piano performance, and have worked as Organist and Director of Music at a church in Somerset.

In between completing my Bachelors and Masters degrees and returning to university to pursue PhD research, I worked as an Assistant Housemistress at The Leys School in Cambridge and at Heathfield School in Ascot, and after completing my PhD I spent 2 years as a Housemistress at Badminton School in Bristol.

I have been a leader with Girl Guides, Brownies and Rainbows, having been a member of the Guiding movement continuously since I was 7 years old, and really enjoy toasting marshmallows and singing songs round a campfire! I also enjoy visiting the beach or walking in the hills, and love animals – I have a dog called Honeypepper and a cat called Fat Geoffrey.

I love working with overseas boarders, introducing them to English culture and finding new and exciting trips and activities to do with them, and always make sure they try Marmite before they go home!