TRIBUTE: A caring Head Teacher remembered by a generation of girls

Monday 07 February 2022

Isobel Stevenson, who was Head Teacher of Jersey College for Girls for 13 years, knew even before she was in her teens that she wanted to be a teacher.

Born in Croydon, she was educated at the High School there, also spending some months in the sixth form at the Church of England Grammar School in Melbourne Australia, where her grandparents lived.

Isobel graduated from King’s College London in 1956 with a degree in Pure and Applied Mathematics and Physics and after gaining her Certificate of Education, taught at schools in Shrewsbury and Wimbledon before moving to Eastbourne Girls High School, where she became Head of the Science Department.

She left Eastbourne when it was proposed that the school’s Sixth Form be removed and in 1977 went to St.Elphin’s, a Church of England boarding school in Matlock Derbyshire as Deputy Head, being Acting Head from 1978-79.

Pictured: Miss Stevenson outside the original JCG main building, now College Gardens.

When she left St. Elphin’s in 1981 to take up the headship of JCG, the Headmaster wrote of her loyalty, integrity and professionalism which with her sense of humour and boundless energy made them very sorry to lose her.    

At JCG, Isobel demonstrated the same energy and commitment, the best interests of the College and its students always being her driving force.

She was determined to see that the College had good buildings and having been promised new laboratories when she took up the headship, was very disappointed that these never materialised at the Rouge Bouillon site. 

The 1980s brought a number of difficulties. Towards the end of the summer holidays in 1984, while Miss Stevenson was still on holiday, a fire caused by a faulty electric light destroyed the six classrooms and the laboratory on the top floor of the Farewell Wing which had been built in the 1960s. 

Temporary classrooms had to be erected in the playground and rooms used in Old Mont Cantel previously home of the Preparatory Department, all this creating extra work for Head Teacher and staff alike.

In 1986, Isobel and the Headmaster of Victoria College were told by the Education Department that there were proposals to set up a Sixth Form College, which would mean that both schools would lose their Sixth Form.

Pictured: Isobel Stevenson was renowned for her firm but fair approach.

Isobel fought ‘tooth and nail’ to prevent this, gaining support from the PTA and Old Girls, giving interviews on local media and encouraging all involved to lobby States Members. 

When a statement was made in the States Assembly that the Sixth Forms would not be touched, she left the next day for a holiday in euphoric mood.

In September 1988, the decision was made that it would not be possible to provide JCG with the new buildings of which it had much need on the existing site. Isobel fought with the same determination and energy for the establishment of the College and its Prep in new buildings on Mont Millais. 

In 1991, the States agreed by 42-3 that the school should have new buildings close to Victoria College, which pleased her greatly but these were not ready to move into until September 1999, five years after her retirement at the age of 60 in 1994. 

In that year, work began on the building of a new Preparatory School and in March 1997 Isobel attended its official opening, being very pleased by the fact that the building had recently won a British architectural award.

Both former students and ex-staff have spoken of finding Miss Stevenson stern and formidable but of having come to recognise that behind this exterior was a kind, generous and compassionate person with a sense of humour, who took a genuine interest in her students, encouraged them to challenge themselves and was proud of their achievements.

Despite being extremely busy with school affairs, she also became very much involved in the island community. 

She was a member of the Soroptimists, the National Trust for Jersey, served on the councils of the Royal Commonwealth Society (Jersey) and Communicare, was secretary to the Church Schools Society and served on the Deanery Synod. 

When she retired she joined the Jersey Association of Retired Teachers, served on its committee and became its President in 2006.

In her home parish of St. Peter, she was one of the five rates assessors from 1995 to 2004  - the first woman to serve in this capacity and her four male colleagues made her the Chairman!

She helped to devise the formula for calculating parish rates, using her own house - a basic three-bedroomed family house on an estate - as a template.

Isobel’s personal interests were wide. Top of the list were music, travelling and surfing. She had visited Jersey several times before coming to work in the island and especially loved being down at St. Ouen’s beach. 

She went on many cruises, visiting both North and South Poles, and when she retired she went on a three-month holiday to Australia and New Zealand. 

She loved driving long distances and went around Ayer’s Rock (Uluru) on the back of a Harley Davidson. 

From Bexhill, where she retained her flat as a base, she continued to drive her beloved Morris Oxford until it became unworthy at 41 years old.

Pictured: Miss Stevenson at her desk at JCG.

Health problems reduced her activities in recent years but she remained determined to stay in her own home as long as possible, eventually moving to the Cheval Roc Nursing and Residential Home, where she was cared for until she died peacefully on 15 January.

Isobel had a strong religious faith and regularly attended St. Peter’s Church. It was fitting, therefore, that her funeral service was held there on 3 February and given her love of JCG that all of the school’s prefects and its Chamber Choir were present, along with a number of former members of staff and that the service ended with the School Hymn based on its motto, Nisi Dominus Frustra.

Isobel Stevenson leaves no close family to mourn her but she will be long remembered by those who have been associated with the College in any way during the last forty years.

Margaret Stone

Memories from former students...

Since JCG shared news of Isobel Stevenson's passing on its Facebook page, former students have been sharing their memories...

“I remember that she saw our daughter after her entrance exam to check, as she failed the maths section. She did this because she suspected she hadn’t been taught properly and she was right! Our daughter got a school place and excelled academically so it was thanks to Miss Stevenson that she got this opportunity … an excellent teacher and Head Teacher.” Ruth Livesey

“Condolences to the family. Miss Stevenson was a fabulous headmistress. That was one lady you respected!” Chantelle Boleat

“I remember being called to her office a fair few times, mainly (but not always) to be told off!” Melissa Messervy

“I actually spoke to her only a few years ago, she was telling me about all her adventures. She had literally travelled the whole world. She was an amazing and remarkable lady. She did scare me as a teenager though. As an adult, I can appreciate that it was so you did your very best. May she rest in peace.” Kat Wall

“I was terrified of her - we all were - at first! But then she shared her passion for music and travel. And most importantly her conviction that girls could achieve anything. Thank you Miss Stevenson.” Jenny Hill

“What an amazing lady - she was very kind underneath that formidable exterior, and she was a hugely positive influence in sharing her experiences of travelling the world, and encouraging her girls to challenge themselves. And she took such an interest in all her students - I remember seeing her in town years after I left school, and (once I’d got over the initial terror that she’d actually stopped to talk to me!) being amazed that she still knew my name, wanted to know all about what I was up to, and asked after all my friends too. We were very lucky to have her as a headmistress!” Susie Hailey