What’s the best thing about the RGS? The best thing about the RGS is without a doubt the pupils and the staff. Without fail and even in the busiest of days, there is always a silly moment or a positive interaction that will make me smile or giggle.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? I would love the power to be instantly ready or to make my environment instantly ready – I’d save so much time tidying up.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? If I was only allowed to ever eat one flavour of ice cream for the rest of my life it would have to be mint chocolate.

What animal most reflects your personality? I’d say a Quokka most reflects my personality. They’re smiley, friendly, curious, little and they love to be warm and snuggly.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? This is a tough one – I’d really want a hammock but I think the complete set of Harry Potter audio books would top that.

What’s the best thing about the RGS? I’ve only been with the RGS a short while, but it’s the culture that stands out most strongly for me. It’s a highly collaborative and supportive environment, in which people are encouraged to try new things without fear of failure.

What’s your life philosophy / motto in life? Do your best and leave the rest.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? An unlimited supply of my favourite podcasts – I’ve become obsessed since lockdown!

What’s your favourite film and why? The Shawshank Redemption – because it’s timeless and reminds me to never give up.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? I’ve tried them multiple times in an attempt at sophistication, but I’ve now concluded that raw oysters are just gross.

Do you have any phobias? Spiders – I have to ask my daughter to remove them if I see one, which I realise is not a good look.

When did you join the RGS: September 2022 (this time round) – I previously worked here from 2010 to 2016!

What’s the best thing about the RGS? The community – people here are kind, supportive, tolerant and good natured. Positivity, kindness and good humour are important attributes!

What excites you most about coming into work each day? The people – be they colleagues or pupils, my interactions with them bring great joy each day.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? Be kind and build people up – you never know what is going on their lives.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? A well kept golf course.

What animal most reflects your personality? Elephant.

Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? Sri Lanka just pips Mozambique. The people, the food, the people, the beaches, the people and the value for money!

What would your theme song be? Baywatch.

What’s your favourite film and why? Point Break – I have never really been a big one for films – but Point Break (the original version) I can watch over and over again.

Do you have any phobias? I am terrified of heights!

What would your autobiography be entitled? Baggs of unfulfilled talent.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? Stracciatella.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? Fish.

Peta-Anne studied economics and law before commencing her legal career. She practised international employment law for 20 years at a City firm and then a US Law firm in London. Peta-Anne is actively involved in the School community. She is a member of the RGS Parents’ Association and regularly assists with charity events and initiative at the School.

What’s the best thing about the RGS? It’s always the people. I’m lucky enough to work with such a positive, energetic group that no two days are the same. Plus free coffee.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? “Turn it off and on again”.

If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? “Bill Gates”. The inconvenience it would cause would be worth the staff room conversations. “Speak to Bill Gates in IT”.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Internet. Everything else can be figured out, but WiFi is non-negotiable.

If you could choose one superhuman ability, what would it be? Invisibility. Anyone who doesn’t pick that has questionable judgement!

What’s your favourite film and why? Alien. It’s fun to try and name all of the 80’s technology in the background.

Do you have any phobias? No.

What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment? My gel slippers. You freeze them, then wear them on hot days. Life-changing, trust me. It might sound odd, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? Vanilla. If a company can make an exceptional vanilla ice cream, I know the other flavours will be on point. If not, move on to the next brand.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? 
Peanut butter. I like most foods and I’m not allergic to anything, but there’s something about peanut butter that I can’t stand.

If you could be any cartoon character who would you be? 
Definitely Batman. Some days retreating to a cave would be great.

What’s the best thing about the RGS? It’s a privilege to work in a school with 500 years of history but the real foundations of the RGS lie with the people. Great colleagues. Great students. Great ethics.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? It’s your ship so set your own compass points.

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? Double glazing in the Old Building.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Bear Grylls because I bet he can start a fire.

What’s your most interesting/unusual hobby? I’m part of an Improv Comedy group and we’re very funny, even though our last performance was to an audience of just 3 incredibly supportive pensioners. Turned out everyone else was watching England in the Euros semi-final. Timing is everything.

Do you have any phobias? Spiders. I used to regularly email pictures of spiders I found in the house and garden to a particularly patient and understanding spider expert I found online. He said they were all harmless garden spiders. Then I was bitten by a spider and hospitalised with sepsis.

What would your autobiography be entitled? It would be funny if it wasn’t true…see above.

Which actor/actress would you get to play you in a film of your life Sophie Thompson…when I lived in Japan, I was often asked if I knew any famous people. After saying no for ages, I thought it would be fun to say yes. So I said I was Emma Thompson’s sister. After pretending to be Sophie for 4 months I owe it to her to pretend to be me.

What’s the best thing about the RGS? Simply the people and of course the lunches!

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? ‘It is what it is’, I wish I could be more philosophical but it’s a motto I find myself saying a lot.

What would your autobiography be entitled? ‘A blender without a lid’.

What animal most reflects your personality? Probably a Spaniel, loyal, friendly and a bit lively.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? A good book or a snorkel, can I have two!?

Which actor/actress would you get to play you in a film of your life? Julia Roberts.

What is your favourite ice-cream flavour? Has to be Cherry.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? Flying so I could explore the world for free.

What excites you most about coming into work each day? Knowing that I am going to have interesting discussions and that I am going to spend time with cool people!

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? The Socratic “know thyself”.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? An empty notebook, to write down thoughts.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? Not gaining any weight even if I eat all the gelato.

Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? Peru, and especially the 4-day Inca trail ending in Machu Picchu. Lots of life lesson learned.

What would your theme song be? Weird fishes by Radiohead.

What’s your favourite film and why? Federico Fellini’s 8 ½. For how it explores self-doubt, anxiety, search of identity. For how it all ends with the characters joining ends in a big circle on a sandy beach.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat?
Pineapple on pizza / Ketchup on pasta.

If you could be any cartoon character who would you be? Goku from Dragon Ball. Especially for the hair!

What is the best thing about the RGS? That’s not easy to nail down because there are so many positives about working here. The boys are a joy to teach, and the staff are kind, supportive and professional at all times. It’s a really rewarding place to work.

What’s your life philosophy? Treasure those you love; family and friends are so important.

What luxury would you have on a desert island? It has to be a surfboard!

What animal most reflects your personality? I like to think a Springer Spaniel (we have one, he’s a joy) – very loving and loyal, needs lots of exercise but knows how to relax in between.

Do you have any phobias? Confined spaces! Went on a potholing experience once on my brother’s stag weekend, it was horrible, and I couldn’t wait to get out!

What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment? Well that’s subjective! It could be the Truffle Mayonnaise but equally the bottles of Sunscreen.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Salted caramel.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat? The food I definitely would not eat, even if paid, is a Durian fruit- the smell!