Being a Watford Colleague

Ms McAlpine

Head of Biology

I am Head of Biology at Watford Girls - I teach Biology to Years 9-13 and Junior Science (Years 7 and 8), when my timetable allows it. I started here as a cover for a Maternity leave for one term in September 2012 and have never left!

During my time here, I have had the opportunity to take on other responsibilities including mentoring PGCE students and NQTs. I was also an interim Head of Year 11 for one year.

I enjoy teaching girls – I taught at a girls’ school previously – and I was aware of the reputation of the school, in particular the education of girls to an exemplary standard in Science. The Biology department is wonderful and I feel privileged to work with so many well qualified, knowledgeable, passionate people. The students are fantastic, every day is different and we face the challenges together!

Mr Plowright

Groundsman

As a Groundsman, my role at Watford Girls is to keep the grounds to a high standard, ensuring the school is clean, tidy and well-maintained. I've worked here for nearly eight years and was made to feel welcome from the moment I first entered.

I like that the school is proud of the way it presents itself and enjoy being part of such a great team in the site office. We all work together and help each other out when needed to keep up the schools’ standards.

I have also been given the opportunity to help coach the Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 school football teams, which is another aspect of my job that I love. It’s great to see how passionate the girls are about their sport and to have the chance to see them grow as sports people and represent the school. It is working with such committed staff and enthusiastic pupils that makes my job so great.

Mrs Wilshaw

Deputy Headteacher

Making the decision to apply for my role at Watford Girls was easy. I grew up in Watford and have known of the school’s excellent reputation for academic achievement all my life.

I am incredibly proud to work at Watford Grammar School for Girls, and to be part of such a great team of people who strive every day to transform the lives of the students in their care.

I joined Watford Grammar School for Girls in September 2018 as Deputy Headteacher. My key responsibilities are for standards and effectiveness and as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

I started teaching as a Physics teacher in 2001 at The Henrietta Barnett School. In 2006 I moved to Rickmansworth School, becoming an Assistant Headteacher 3 years later. Prior to becoming part of a Senior Leadership Team, I undertook a range of different responsibilities including being Head of Year and Head of Physics.

Making the decision to apply for my role at Watford Girls was easy. I grew up in Watford and have known of the school’s excellent reputation for academic achievement all my life. In some schools, Physics is a minority subject which struggles to run A Level groups. It is important to me that I work in a school that promotes and supports females in their study of a subject that is male dominated on a national level. From the moment I first made contact to come and look around the school I was struck by how welcoming and friendly everyone was, from students, to support staff, teaching staff and governors.

I am incredibly proud to work at Watford Grammar School for Girls, and to be part of such a great team of people who strive every day to transform the lives of the students in their care.

Miss Dodhia

Head of Year 7 and PE Teacher

I began working in the PE Department at Watford Girls in September 2017. My main roles at the school are Head of Year 11 and Teacher of PE. I also have additional responsibilities as the Year 7 Activities Trip Coordinator & Peer Listener Coordinator.

Having spent most of my teaching career working in girls’ education, I felt instantly at home when I joined Watford Girls because it is a school that that upholds traditional values, and this is something that is important to me.

Alongside the academic excellence, the school fully immerses and supports its students in taking up Art, Music, Drama and PE, something that several schools are withdrawing/limiting from the curriculum. There is a real community feel at Watford Girls, which is evident through the number of charitable activities that students get involved in and the emphasis the school places on service to others.

The PE department has an excellent reputation with Hertfordshire. The department has first-class facilities and a team of highly skilled practitioners that I Iove being a part of. I enjoy the fact that no two days are the same. Within lessons, students surprise me daily with their creativity, kindness, and commitment to be the best version of themselves. The girls here have a thirst for knowledge, and it is incredibly satisfying to see that lightbulb moment when their hard work has paid off and they achieve something that they never thought possible.

Being a Watford colleague

Working at Watford Grammar School for Girls, whether you teach or support the teaching staff in providing our students with a superb education, means being part of a close knit community.

We are traditional in our academic values, while being innovative and forward-looking in our teaching.

A first class team

We all work as a first class team, taking pride in all that we achieve. While we are traditional in our academic values, we are highly innovative and forward looking in ensuring that our school and our students are equipped to face the challenges and grasp the opportunities they face. We are specialists in our fields and encouraged to develop and refine our expertise in a supportive, nurturing and vibrant environment.

Working at Watford Girls