In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we had a chat to popular Gilson Matron, Mrs Trish Magee. Mrs Magee has many years' experience working with teenagers and loves supporting the girls at Shiplake. In her spare time she enjoys walking her three dogs and listening to music.
How long have you been working at Shiplake and what is your current role, and any roles you had previously?
I have been working at Shiplake for 20 months now, previous to that I was working as a Health Care Assistant in an adolescent mental health unit in the NHS and previous to that I was working in an ICU which specialises in the treatment of anorexia in adolescents. Both of these were in patient settings.
What does being a Matron in Gilson House entail?
The chief objective of being Matron is to ensure that every student feels at home in Gilson House, both boarders and day girls. This means ensuring, to the best of my ability, that the pastoral welfare of the girls, on a day to day basis, is taken care of, working in close collaboration with the Housemasters. Alongside that I have to check the House for maintenance issues every day and report these as necessary, be on duty at break and lunchtime, collect post and distribute it, be on hand to answer any questions the girls may have, dispense medication as and when necessary, liaise with teachers and liaise with parents, book appointments when necessary and the list goes on...
What does a typical day look like for you?
It is pretty hard to define a 'typical' day as each day can differ so much depending on what issues come to the fore within the House. Matters that have to be dealt with every day are registration and chasing up students who have not come into College. This means liaising with parents on a regular basis. I also liaise with the Medical Wing on a regular basis as often I have to look after sick students and dispense medication.
There are always maintenance issues to deal with and ensuring the boarders' rooms are checked every day in order to keep up the high standards that I expect from the girls in Gilson House.
In addition to that I keep a close eye on any pastoral issues that come up. Under the current COVID climate, not to mention the five months off in lockdown, I have been kept pretty busy!
What do you love most about your job?
Being there to support the girls is my favourite part of the job even though this can sometimes be quite challenging. It is especially rewarding to see how the girls’ confidence has grown by the time they leave at the end of Year 13. It’s also so lovely when some of the girls come back to visit and tell me how much they have enjoyed their time here in Gilson and it’s a time of their lives that they will never forget.
What is the best thing about Shiplake?
Working in such a beautiful environment. If I’m having a challenging day I sit on the bench outside the Great Hall, breathe deeply and take in the amazing view.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love walking my three dogs.
I love listening to music which I always have on at home.
I enjoy good conversations.
I love psychological thriller-type films and dramas.
I love crystals.
What does the future hold for Mrs Magee?
Well I’ve got a clear quartz crystal ball at home, maybe I’ll look into it tonight?
