Toppy Wharton
Q. Your name?
Toppy Wharton
Q. Your school?
St Catherine’s Bramley/Sherborne Girls School
Q. Your current occupation?
PA to the Head at St Catherine’s Bramley!
Q. Your favourite subject at school?
Biology
Q. Your best and worst memory of your school days?
The camaraderie of my friends in boarding and the midnight feasts (which were allowed!) and the agony of who to go to lunch with in the canteen!
Q. What or who inspired you to follow your career?
I rather fell into the education sector as I answered the ad at my old school when unemployed having left the ‘City’ but it has been the best decision I ever made. It is a very ‘hands on’ career with many different aspects and Schools are SUCH nice places to work in!
Q. What do you feel you gained by attending a girls’ only school?
My friends. By being in an all girls environment there was encouragement to succeed by one’s peers and less ‘competition’. I received huge support from my friends and a work ethos that has stood me in good stead ever since. Looking back I also realise that we were able to stay ‘young’ and not suffer the pressures of boyfriends and the like until we were older. My Biology teacher was also an inspiration – we all wanted to be as dynamic as her!
Q. Any advice for parents choosing a school for their daughter?
A school that will give confidence. For some, a smaller school to be a big fish but also for some, the encouragement of being a small fish with space to grow. A School that can give a balanced provision for all strengths with PE, Drama and Music as well as academic provision as grades are not everything and girls can shine in so many areas. If one is confident, then anything is possible!
Q. Any advice for girls planning their university and/or career choices?
Just go for further education in any form. You may not know what you want at 18 or what career to go for and it can be a scary pressure but you must give yourself all the tools to enable you to go in any direction in the future. I denied myself that and advise all to go for university or some form of further education.
Q. Any other comments you would like to make?
Being in a single sex school saved me as my friends were dedicated and gave me the ethos for work. I have achieved because of my peers and I think the importance of ‘making friends for life’ is important as my best 5 are my school friends and have given me support ever since. The battles of life are enriched by those around you and the history of your friendships can mean everything when the chips are down. It isn’t JUST about education – it is the relationships you form that shape you too.
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