Thursday 15 February 2024 Rowan-Reed Purvis looks back at 25 years of teaching Spanish at LGS and GSAL – and reflects on the characters, successes and changes along the way. When Rowan Reed-Purvis saw there was a Spanish teaching job at Leeds Grammar School (LGS) in 1998, she carried out a reconnaissance visit. “Heading up the drive, I was struck by LGS’s attractive leafy location and university-feel campus,” says Rowan. “I determined at that moment that I definitely wanted to work here.” And she clearly impressed director of studies Eric Medway and deputy head Steve Field in the interview, which consisted of a series of “nice chats” with various members of staff. “Younger colleagues might be surprised to hear that there was no desk task, no pupil interview, no lesson to teach,” she laughs. When Rowan started at LGS, Spanish had only just been introduced as a GCSE option, with one class of 15 Year 10 boys. A few years later, Rowan had her first Spanish A-level cohort – one student, who ended up studying politics and Spanish at Glasgow University. How times have changed – at GSAL today, Spanish is extremely popular with over 700 students. “After a curriculum review in 2013, Spanish was given equal billing to French and German. Along with deputy head of Spanish, Briony Lancaster, I could finally design a key stage 3 curriculum for Spanish for GSAL pupils aged 11-14 – such an exciting achievement. It’s been hard work, but a true labour of love for us both.” There have been many highlights over the last 25 years. “Helping Saud Chaudry get into Cambridge – to my alma mater, Robinson College – to study Spanish was a wonderful moment,” says Rowan. “And setting up GSAL’s exchange with a school in Vitoria Gasteiz in the Basque Country, which ran every year from 2010 until we snuck in our return leg in Spain just as the first cases of Covid struck in spring 2020. The netball tour to South Africa in 2014 is another standout memory.” Plenty has changed, says Rowan – “For the better – I think school has become a more caring place, taking a truly holistic approach to education. And I think the school rose magnificently to the challenges thrown up by the pandemic” – but plenty has stayed the same, too. For Rowan, academic rigour, and innovative and imaginative teaching is GSAL’s mainstay. “The staff remain GSAL’s greatest asset,” she says. “We are fortunate to be able to work with a high degree of freedom and collegiality.” And her favourite thing about GSAL? “For 25 years, I have really appreciated being able to start my day three times a week with a swim in our beautiful pool.” There is plenty to look forward to for GSAL Hispanists. In February half-term, Rowan will be leading a trip to Málaga with 40 Year 10 and Year 12 pupils – the department’s first trip abroad since 2020. “Pupils will have language lessons in a local school, have a go at flamenco, visit some of Málaga’s Moorish historical sites and have a chance to explore the Alhambra in Granada,” she says. Twenty five years may sound like a long time, but Rowan says it’s “flown by”. “And best of all, I’m still learning,” she adds. Alumni
