Your full name:
Hayley Mortimer
Where did you grow up?
Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.
Education:
Pate’s Grammar School followed by the University of Gloucestershire (changed from Cheltenham and Gloucester College.)
Your previous role and place of work:
Deputy Head Co-Curricular and Director of Sport at Taunton School.
What are you most looking forward to about your new role and working at King’s Ely?
The fact that the role is a new one, therefore the canvas in many ways is a blank one. I have already felt a clear desire in all co-curricular areas throughout the school to focus on developing, improving and creating even more opportunities for the pupils.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Apparently I went home at five years of age and told my mother that I wanted to “do sport for a job when I was older”.
Hobbies/interests outside of school:
At present, my interests revolve around open water swimming, something we used to do at my previous school with the students, with teams swimming across the English Channel and around Jersey – watch this space King’s Ely!
Any pets?
None – I am not a fan of being at home, I like exploring.
What is your favourite meal/food?
I am definitely a fan of Mexican food. The PE Teacher in me is partial to a Jelly Baby or two on the side of a touchline of sport – for energy purposes of course.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
To fly. I love a view!
Who is your hero?
Hmmm, this is a hard one, as I would say there have been a number of people who have significantly impacted me and my life.
My working career has been based on role models who set high standards and lead by example. Maybe oddly, I remember watching Bryan Robson with my father as a child and I remember thinking that he demonstrated traits as a player that I wanted to exhibit as a person. Hard working, committed, tenacious and dynamic are words that I certainly remember hearing or seeing in the way he carried out his role as captain. This definitely set the tone for me with regards to how I approach things.
Currently, it is Sabrina Cohen-Hatton. I was fortunate to meet her as a visiting speaker for prizegiving at my previous school and this lead me to read her book. Her philosophy is about how ‘ordinary people do extraordinary things’ and we can all be a game changer. I agree wholeheartedly with this statement, and without doubt see that all pupils have that capability and it is our role as educators to facilitate them on their journey.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Enabling “the game to be changed” at my previous school. I will have a number of memories that will forever make me proud, most of them involve seeing the journey of a pupil in whatever form that is… Seeing pupils accomplish their own personal targets through hard work and commitment will forever be the reason I chose to work in education.
What was the last book you read?
‘The Heat of the Moment’ by Sabrina Cohen-Hatton.
What song are you most likely to sing at a karaoke?
All and any! l have been called a human karaoke on a number of occasions and I love a good sing-along, it is just not very pleasant for everyone else! I just have to find a song low enough for the PE Teacher voice… By choice, it would be ‘Grace’ by Lewis Capaldi.
What is your favourite film?
Shawshank Redemption as a classic, but also Top Gun: Maverick… I mean who doesn’t?
Do you have any phobias or fears?
Not really. I am one for trying to overcome them. I was not a fan of the sea (without a surf board) until I took up open water swimming, but being responsible for the pupils is certainly one way to overcome it in an instance.
If you could share a meal with any four individuals, living or dead, who would they be?
Serena Williams, Alex Ferguson, Prince William and J.K. Rowling.
Name three things you would want with you if stranded on a desert island for a week:
Swimming goggles, a sleeping bag and a knife. The practical nature of me is totally shining through here!