Mr M. Howard
I have been working here at Queen Ethelburgas for 5 years now working in boarding and predominantly with Kings Magna students. In 2017 I joined the pastoral team giving me the opportunity to work with and support students across all year groups in the Collegiate. In addition, I have an important role assisting on the Child Protection team and I am the armed forces co-ordinator bringing with me 23 years’ experience of military service with the British Army. In my down time I enjoy nothing more than getting out and about with my camera shooting landscape photographs and have a real passion for travel photography.
Where were you born?
Jarrow, South Tyneside
What was your favourite subject at school?
Art & Motor Vehicle Technology
Do you have a favourite hobby?
Photography
Where is the best place you have visited?
Niagara Falls, Oman
What is your happiest memory from your time at Queen Ethelburga’s?
Watching students complete 6th form after looking after them since they were in Year 7.
Miss E. Gibson
Hello, my name is Lizzie Gibson and I have worked at Queen Ethelburga’s since 2009. I started here as an Assistant House Parent in Year 9 Girls and worked my way up to Head of House for KS4 Girls; which was lovely as I was with many of the girls for three years. Before I came here I worked in catering and still enjoy cooking with students or for the Pastoral team!! I have worked on the Pastoral Team for a few years now and enjoy the mix of school and boarding. I work mainly in KS5 , however, help out when necessary in all age groups. When I am not at work I love to walk my dog, garden and read a lot.
Where were you born?
Penrith, Cumbria
What was your favourite subject at school?
Maths and Physics – I hated sport!
Do you have a favourite hobby?
Dog walking, horse riding, cooking
Where is the best place you have visited?
India, when I went with QE to work in an orphanage
What is your happiest memory from your time at Queen Ethelburga’s?
The holidays! Only joking – it’s not really a memory – but the people that you meet, both staff and students that you stay in touch with long after they have left.
Mr Marculewicz
I began working at Queen Ethelburgas back in 2015 as an International Liaison Officer in Boarding. My journey began with the Year 11 students who I truly enjoyed working with. I moved up with them to Sixth form where I stayed with them until they left in Year 13. Through the years I enjoyed immersing myself into a diverse and multicultural environment where as was later given the opportunity to oversee Sixth form boarding. This year my role has changed and now I am part of the Boarding Management Team working along side the Heads of Boarding.
In my spare time I enjoy travelling and exploring differing cultures and cuisines.
Where were you born?
Belarus
What was your favourite subject at school?
PE
Do you have a favourite hobby?
I like water sports such as surfing and kite surfing
Where is the best place you have visited?
It has been very hard for me to choose one place however I think Alaska is spectacular, the food and culture in France is great and I have met some lovely people in the Netherlands.
What is your happiest memory from your time at Queen Ethelburga’s?
It all comes down to the students – they are what form some of my happiest memories. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the Year 11 boys in my first year here and have some great memories of working with them.
Mr Jones
I have been working here at Queen Ethelburgas for 4 Years. I began as a House Parent working with the Kings Magna students in Park Gate, I then looked after Year 9 boys before joining the Boarding Management Team. My first main project was to help with the establishment of our four vertical boarding houses which I think have been a great success. I love being a part of the boarding community here at Queen Ethelburgas and I think the huge variety of cultures we have here makes us very lucky as it means we can learn lots from each other. I love playing and watching sport and you can often find me out on the 4G or in the sports hall supporting our students during fixtures. My top tip for boarding is to make the most of the facilities on site as well as bringing lots of items with you to customise your bed space within the house.
Where were you born?
Buxton, Derbyshire.
What was your favourite subject at school?
History and Music
Do you have a favourite hobby?
Playing cricket and watching Derby County.
Where is the best place you have visited?
Berlin, Germany.
What is your happiest memory from your time at Queen Ethelburga’s?
The carol service at Ripon Cathedral is a very special occasion!
Mr McAnerney
I am in my 5th year working here at Queen Ethelburga’s. I began my journey as houseparent to our year 8 boys who are now in their final year with us in year 13. I then spent my second year at Queen Ethelburga’s working with our Kings Magna boys (year 6 to 9). I then moved on to overseeing boarding for our Oak and Willow students (years 3 to 6) and our year 11 boarders. I am now a member of our boarding management team which gives me the opportunity to work closely with all age groups throughout the school while also focusing on how we can move boarding forward to ensure that we are providing the highest standard of modern British Boarding possible.
I have previously worked in an international boarding school in Austria and through this I developed a love of outdoor sports and experiences. Prior to arriving here at Queen Ethelburga’s I worked in Elite sports as Sports science support and a Strength and Conditioning coach. My passion for sport still remains and I love getting the opportunity to support our students during their fixtures.
Where were you born?
Lurgan, County Armagh, Ireland
What was your favourite subject at school?
Physical Education and also Biology
Do you have a favourite hobby?
Watching or playing sport (more watching as I get older) especially Gaelic Football and Hurling.
Where is the best place you have visited?
St Gilgen Austria. Never a chance to be bored with lakes, mountains and snow.
What is your happiest memory from your time at Queen Ethelburga’s?
My favourite memory and occasion each year at Queen Ethelburga’s is the Race for Life charity run. All the students in the younger years compete in this event alongside staff. Some walk , some run and some really commit to racing. There is such a great community spirit every year at the event and it is always great to see how much the pupils support their peers as they finish. I feel it really highlights the wonderful community spirit here at the Collegiate.
Miss Wilcox
I joined Queen Ethelburgas in October 2015 as a Houseparent with Sixth Form Girls. From the next Academic year I moved to work with Y10/11 girls and when Vertical Boarding was first introduced I was promoted to House Mistress. Since then I have become a member of the Boarding Management Team and I now work very closely with Chapter House. I have been given the opportunity to work with all ages across Boarding which has given me a vast amount of knowledge when offering support to students.
Where were you born?
Enfield
What was your favourite subject at school?
English – I always enjoyed reading at a younger age
Do you have a favourite hobby?
When I am not working you can find me at the top of a Peak in the Lake District or on a trail run!
Where is the best place you have visited?
New Zealand
What is your happiest memory from your time at Queen Ethelburga’s?
I enjoyed being part of a fantastic team to help set up Vertical Boarding for our students as it has proved to be very successful and popular with our students. During this time it was lovely to see students develop friendships from outside of their year group and become part of a boarding family.
Mrs Popovics
I have been working at QE for five years. I started as an Assistant Houseparent in Sixth Form Boys in 2016 and a year later I moved to Sixth Form Girls and have been working with them ever since.
I have worked as a teacher of Mathematics and teaching English as a Second Language in a Secondary School in Debrecen, Hungary for 17 years before I joined Queen Ethelburga’s.
I do not have a hobby, however, I love cooking, reading, running, and traveling in my free time. The best place I have ever visited is Israel, especially Jerusalem. This is the country I would love to visit again as there so much interesting and beautiful places to visit and things to do.