Dr Maggie Williams - the new Chairman of Birkenhead High School Old Girls’ Society (2008)
I took over as Chairman of the BHS Old Girls’ Society in September 2008. I had attended Birkenhead High School from 1961 to 1968 and I have been active in the Old Girls’ Society since my retirement from full-time work in 2002.
After completing my secondary education I read Geology at Leicester University. Following a year at Keele University where I studied for a PGCE, specialising in secondary Science teaching, I returned to Merseyside, married and started my teaching career.
During my time in teaching I worked in various mixed and boys’ comprehensive schools for 16 years until 1988 when I moved to Birkenhead Sixth Form College. I worked here for 14 years and at the time of my retirement I held the post of Assistant Principal.
In 1995 I started studying part-time for a higher degree in the Earth and Ocean Sciences Department at Liverpool University. I was awarded a Ph.D. in 2003. My thesis title was “The significance of hiatal surfaces in assessing the degree of stratigraphic condensation”. (As you can imagine – this is a bit of a conversation stopper with most people!)
I now work as a part-time Research Assistant in the Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences at Liverpool and at the moment I am involved with pedagogic research into the development of problem-solving activities and other activities to enhance students' understanding of 3-dimensional spatial relationships.
I feel very honoured to be Chairman of the Old Girls’ Society and although I am looking forward to planning the society’s celebrations in 2011 marking our 100th birthday, I am also looking forward to being involved with and supporting BHS in the exciting times ahead as the school faces its new future as an academy.