Shiplake College News

It seemed fitting that on her last day at the College, we would have a conversation with... the amazing Alison Davies. She has not only fulfilled the role of a Headmaster's wife, but also a teacher of Learning Development and another mother figure to many of the pupils. 

What does your average day entail?

Well, I am a part-time teacher here, I teach at school on a Monday, Tuesday and Friday, but each day is very different, depending on what year groups I am teaching. I am a sixth form tutor in Everett, where on a Monday evening I do prep duty, as well as on a Friday. I then cover activities on a Tuesday afternoon, where throughout the years I have been involved in sewing club, cookery club and now I look after prep. On a Wednesday and a Thursday, I usually sit in Reading Magistrates’ Court, either in Family or Adult Court. With colleagues, I make decisions about people’s lives.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I don’t really have much spare time, I’m either at school, in court or looking after my mother. But when I do get some time, I enjoy walking the dogs, shopping with my daughter and if he has free time, spending some time with my husband chatting about our days on our balcony.

What were you like as a schoolgirl and what was your favourite subject?

I was nauseating good as a schoolgirl. I did everything I was told to do, I behaved well, I handed in my homework on time, but that’s what you did in Northern Ireland. I would never want to disappoint my parents. My favourite subjects were probably history and home economics. I loved home economics, my teacher was really inspirational and that’s maybe why I went on to do the subject as my degree. However, I didn’t enjoy teaching it as much as I thought I would, which is why I went into teaching special education.

What did you do before teaching at Shiplake?

I taught home economics in Harpenden, which was my very first job, and then I switched and worked for social services at a centre for emotionally and behaviourally challenged young people. That was the biggest challenge of my teaching career. We then moved to Edinburgh, where I taught in a blind school, which again was very challenging for different reasons. After that, I was a lecturer at Stevenson College, where I worked with adults with mental health issues and learning difficulties in two long-stay hospitals. I also taught at Fettes College Prep School, before having my daughter, where I took some time off to look after her. Finally, when we moved down here, I became a member of the Learning Development Department, and as they say the rest is history.

What’s been your favourite memory of Shiplake?

When Gregg and Anna were both on the platform stage at Speech Day in 2016.

What will you miss the most when you leave Shiplake?

I’ll miss the pupils most, as well as our wonderful catering department. They look after me so well, they get my favourite wine in for dinners and they understand my different dietary requirements.

Are you going to continue to work after you leave Shiplake?

I am, I think I would go crazy if I had to stay at home! I have a job for a private fostering company, where I will sit on the panel and I have also applied for another private fostering panel, and I am hoping to continue being a Magistrate as well.

What does the future hold for Alison Davies?

Who knows! But lots of happiness, good health, travel and I might even be able to see my husband a bit more!