Meet Mr Ollie McGuinness

How long have you worked at the school?

This is now my tenth year working within the Mill Hill Schools having joint Belmont as an NQT in 2016 and eventually becoming Head of Maths, before transitioning over to Mill Hill, three years ago. 

What does your role involve?

I am a teacher of Maths in both Lower School and Sixth Form, as well as coaching the Girls’ Fives Team and U15A Girls Cricket Team; I am also Senior Tutor for Atkinson House, a role which I have greatly enjoyed having been appointed at the end of the Spring Term last year

What has been the most rewarding moment of your teaching career?

A very hard question to answer as there have been so many; we are extremely lucky to work with such amazing children at Mill Hill. Certainly, a big highlight from last year was seeing our Girls Junior A Cricket Team lifting the Middlesex Cup after many months of hard work end dedication, as well as reaching the quarter final of the National 100 Ball Cup Competition! There were also countless rewarding moments whilst working as a key worker over the Covid period, and I will never forget the look of joy on our Year 6’s faces when they were allowed to return for the Summer Term. 

What invaluable advice would you give our pupils to help them make the most of their time here?

There is something on offer for everyone at Mill Hill, whether you feel at home on the theatre stage, in a music ensemble or on the sports field; embrace all aspects of school life and strive for continual excellence as you pave a future for yourselves with unlimited potential.

If you could go back in time and give advice to your first-year teacher self, what would you say?

Term time can feel relentlessly busy at times, but can equally flash by in the blink of an eye; take time to reflect on all your experiences, both positive and negative, as this is what forms you as a teacher and helps you present the best version of yourself to the amazing children that we have the privilege to teach in our classrooms.

What inspired you to become a teacher, and has that inspiration evolved over time?

As is so often the case I come from a family of teachers, however if anything this was a deterrent in choosing the profession! My true inspiration has to be the incredible Maths teachers I had at school who made such a positive impact on my overall experience and left me feeling as if I owed something back to the education sector. If I can provide anywhere near the quality of support offered to me for my pupils, then I know that I am doing my role justice.

Did you participate in any extracurricular activities or clubs in school?

I spent the vast majority of my breaktimes in the music centre playing the drums and guitar with my school band and remember particularly fondly playing to a live audience outside Notre Dame during the school’s Orchestra Trip. I could also be frequently found on the Eton Fives courts, a sport which I still play socially to this day.

Can you share something about yourself that we might not know?

I am a member of a social cricket side called the Highgate Taverners, playing friendly fixtures across the summer including both midweek T20s and 40 over games on Sundays. Despite our social nature we still manage to play over 30 games a year including a UK and Overseas tour, this year returning to Grenada in Spain. I am very excited!