Page 35 - Millfield 20 Stories

No. 16
THE LESSONS OF LEADERSHIP

“The Millfield ethos mirrors “From the moment I became Head
the old maxim ‘To whom Girl, it was clear that responsibility
much is given, much meant doing one’s best for all and,
what’s more, being nice about it – an
is expected’.” example set by so many Millfield
teachers and staff.
Leadership is part of Millfield’s DNA
and the school offers pupils many “Everything we girls did was on equal
varied opportunities to take up terms with the boys which was quite
positions of responsibility. These a radical way of looking at education
range from Heads of House all the 40 years ago. It made one believe that,
way up to the ultimate challenge of basically, one could do anything one
being Head Boy or Girl. But, as Old actually wanted to do in life.”
Millfieldian and ex-Head Girl Rachel
Hood explains, at Millfield leadership For Rachel, her lessons in leadership
is about more than roles – it’s a state have stood her in good stead – from
of mind. studying at university to a career as
an English and American lawyer.
“Having arrived on a fencing She is also President of the Racehorse
scholarship, I knew I was expected Owners’ Association and Mayor of
to play my part in helping the Newmarket.
fencing team win. What surprised
me was that there was also a belief Rachel adds, “Newmarket may be a
that all of us would do everything long way from Millfield’s fencing
as well as we could. salle, but my years at the school
equipped me magnificently for life
“In my case, that included academic in the real world!”
work. Having had something of a
chaotic home life, I’d missed some
school before Millfield, but the
immediate expectation from my
teachers was that I would do as well as
I possibly could. They would go out of
their way to help me, whether by
supporting my academic studies or my
sporting ambitions.