Mrs Cockroft is the Office Manager at the Junior School and a familiar face to many of the young students. Enjoy reading about her time at The Abbey, and some of her favourite memories.

I joined the Junior School Admin Team in September 2009 and took over as Junior School Office Manager in January 2011. My favourite part of working at The Abbey is the complete variety of each and every day. 

I never know whether I’ll be sitting on reception, writing weekly notices, updating the school calendar, giving first aid (either in school or perhaps at the annual Fun Run in Cintra Park), sorting out bus queries with Horsemans or TK Travel, doing the paperwork for trips or music exams, proofreading documents, helping on a trip or answering parental queries. 

The team of people I work with is absolutely amazing and it is knowing that I can rely on them, so we all pull together, which makes every day so fulfilling. 

Before I joined The Abbey I spent ten years puppy-walking for Guide Dogs for the Blind so one of my fondest memories is when I organised for a visually impaired person to bring his working dog into school and a puppy-walker to bring in her puppy in June 2010 and talk to the girls in assembly. 

The Upper I students had written a cookbook in ICT, which they had sold to families and friends. They chose to donate the £155 they raised from the sales to Guide Dogs. The visiting guide dog was Chloe, one of the pups I had puppy-walked in 2005. When she retired in late 2013, I re-homed her and she became my pet. 

Another highlight for me was when the Junior PE department arranged for Tim Henman to visit the Junior School in June 2012 for brief training sessions with Upper II & Lower III students, followed by a short talk in the hall. 

He brought his Olympic medal and the two Olympic torches from 2004 & 2008 that he has. I had my photo taken with him and was very excited by his visit!