An interview with Siobhan Lowe a head teacher leaving after years of teaching at Tolworth Girls School (by Thea Crake)

What was your most memorable moment?

The month of the fires, as I like to call it, was probably the most memorable. Within the space of three weeks, we had three big fires in school, somebody had put some solution into the dust bin, and it got too hot and caught fire. The whole of the lower corridor filled with smoke on a Tuesday morning. Then four days later two huts had been struck by lightning and it hit the electrical units causing utter chaos.

If you were not a teacher, what would you be?

That is a hard question as from a young age I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, my mum said that I was born to be a teacher as I used to sit on the stairs and take registers and teach lessons even when I was a young child. However, if I was to be anything else I would be a doctor as I love biology and helping people.

Is there a point in your career that you thought you were going to give up? 

Yes, Covid nearly broke me, as I am a very social person and not seeing anyone nor being able to go out was very challenging as you could not connect with anyone like you used to. Right near the start, I got Covid and was hospitalised so made it difficult to work. The first lockdown was not too bad as most of it was through summer with amazing weather where it was bright and sunny. However, the second lockdown was what broke me as it was in winter where it was cold and dark all the time and that effects the mood. 

Has anyone famous visited or come to the school?

Foella Benjamin, Kelly Reilly, Debbie McGee and Kathy Kelly are the biggest names that have been here. 

What is your favourite subject? 

Science is my favourite subject as that is what I have taught throughout my career, and I love it so much as it is so fascinating. I still try to teacher a bit of it now whenever I possibly can.

What are you going to do after leaving Tolworth Girls?

I am going to still teach two days a week but other than that i am going to travel the world and spend time with my family. Mainly just relax and have time to myself which I have not got in decades.