We are delighted to introduce our new Heads of School for the academic year 2020/2021. Lili Longden and Rodrigo Merlo take on the roles of Heads of School, while Ella Gordon and Luke Gare are our new Deputy Heads of School. They - alongside their wonderful Prefect team - have done a fantastic job so far (especially during this particularly challenging year), and have kindly answered a few questions for us so that we can get to know them a little better.
What are your fondest memories of Bede's so far?
Lili: Singing alongside my sister at Cabaret was a very cathartic and heartfelt moment for my whole family. We have been performing side by side our whole lives, however this one particular moment in which we performed a duet of For Good from Wicked stood out from the rest. Lyrically speaking about friendship and sisterhood in front of hundreds, knowing that Meghan was about to embark into her university life, training in music theatre, was a perfect ending to this chapter of our lives.
Rodrigo: It was a time when I wasn't here. I was on holiday between my first and second year and I met some boys who hated their schools and didn't want to go back. I asked why? They told me that their teachers were authoritarian and boring, that they learned very little and that the environment was hostile... Well, when I came back from that holiday and saw my school, my boarding house, my classmates and teachers I thought how very lucky I was.
Ella: The annual Christmas outing is always something that I look forward to and enjoy. Being able to get together as a house and take part in lots of different activities is fantastic. You are able to spend time with people you don't necessarily see outside of a school environment.
Luke: I think some of my best memories at Bede’s have been all the friends I’ve made and the amazing trips I went on to Salamanca for Spanish and New York for Media.
Ella Gordon, Rodrigo Merlo, Lili Longden and Luke Gare
How are you settling into your new role?
Lili: I’m honoured to have been given the opportunity to stretch myself intellectually, emotionally and mentally within this new role. I’ve surprised myself in how I’ve managed my time and organised the prefect team in order to carry out events and change the school for the better. With that being said, the support of my teachers, the brilliant prefect team, the incredibly diligent Deputy Head’s, alongside my very hard-working partner Rodrigo, has made the this transition extremely manageable. I am very passionate about celebrating all cultures and ethnicities and believe that Bede’s is very fortunate in the fact that we have so many students from around the world. I want to spend my time as Head Girl integrating boarders and day students, highlighting why we as a school are so lucky to have the opportunity to learn about a variety of cultures right at our doorstep.
Rodrigo: Obviously these are unprecedented times which limit the range of activities that can be performed by someone in this position, however I have settled in comfortably and will do my utmost to bring about a change that will do the position honour.
Ella: I think that the prefect team, especially the other Heads of School, have made it very easy for me to adjust to my new role. We are a group of students who are passionate about making a change within our community. Personally, I aim to achieve considerable advances in how the Bede's community respect and understand the environment.
Luke: So far I’m really enjoying it, even though I was a little nervous at first. Over the next year I hope to make improvements to the school and help to voice the students’ opinions as best as I can.
If you could travel to any period of history, where would you go?
Lili: If I had the opportunity, I would travel to Ancient Greece, because I think it would be deeply fascinating to see first-hand the foundations of human civilisation being created. Although as a woman I would be neglected any form of power or independence, I would still like to experience a world where perspective and opinions are so significantly centred around religion and mythology, and would also love to observe the beginnings of theatrical culture.
Rodrigo: I would like to sneak in and get involved in the details that changed history: for example, on the 8th of October 1908, I would take the place of the director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and, instead of rejecting him for "confusion, bad dexterity, ignorance of techniques and conventionality of fantasy" promote the nineteen-year-old aspiring painter: "Mr. Hitler you have been admitted."
Ella: I would love to travel to Britain in the 1920's. It was a period of social liberalisation where the attitude towards women changed and there was a complete shift in the structure of society.
Luke: It would have to be a must to go back to the 80’s. I love the culture surrounding that era, especially the music. Plus with my previous knowledge I’d be able to place a few successful sports bets or investments for the future...
Who is on your dream dinner party guest list?
Lili: Someone who could offer direct advice in how to strive in an arguably male-dominated society, would undoubtedly be Cleopatra. To sit down with such an iconic powerful female and learn about her life of luxury, and contrastingly her bravery in being such an influential leader, would be very eye-opening. 12 year old me would never forgive myself if I didn’t extend an invitation to the one and only Harry Styles, whom I expect would be in-charge of party entertainment and bless the table with some renditions of One Direction's biggest hits! I would save the final empty chair for the individual who cracked the enigma code, Alan Turing.
Rodrigo: My grandfathers, who I never met.
Ella: David Attenborough (I'd love to understand his take on the climate crisis), Freddie Mercury (great outfits), and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (an icon for women's rights).
Luke: I would have to invite some inspirational figures that have impacted me such as Warren Buffett, Roger Federer and Gordon Ramsay. They’ve been big influences on pursuing some of my passions in life and it would be amazing to talk to them.
You have one book, one film and one album to take with you to a desert island— which do you pick?
Lili: To distract me from the loneliness I would undoubtedly be feeling, what better way to cheer myself up than to enjoy the classic hits of ABBA through the Mamma Mia Soundtrack (asking me to pick between the original film or the sequel would be a crime). To intellectually stretch myself, I would take my English A-Level set text ‘Brideshead Revisited’ by Evelyn Waugh, because no matter how many times I read it, I will never not be confused. I would probably end the day cosying up on the beach, watching the sunset and laughing at Jim Carrey in the iconic The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
Rodrigo: A documentary on how to survive on a desert island. Agatha Christie's complete works. And I would take one song: Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin.
Ella: Lungs by Florence and the Machines, Come Dine with Me, and Harry Potter (I feel like I should have read it!).
Luke: The book of choice would be a survival guide for a desert island, as much as I need entertainment this information may come in handy there! Music choice would have to be Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, one of my favourites. Then for film, I would pick Gladiator. A classic that I can happily watch on repeat, even if it may get a bit dull after the 100th viewing!
