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    21

    Dec 2023

    Last Updated: 21/12/2023
    Education
    Education

    Ripon Grammar School teacher Helen Mackenzie retires after 18 years

    by Flora Grafton

    | 21 Dec, 2023
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    A Ripon Grammar School PE teacher will retire after 18 years in post tomorrow.

    Helen Mackenzie began working at the school in 2006. She was director of sport for all Ripon schools, including the former Ripon College (now Outwood Academy), as well as 19 other primary schools surrounding the city.

    However, after going part-time and focussing her efforts solely on Ripon Grammar 10 years ago, she said "the time has come" to retire and spend more time with her husband.

    Ms Mackenzie, who is an England Netball level 3 coach, has taught a wide range of sports at Ripon Grammar, where she was formerly a pupil until 1986. These include netball, badminton, swimming, gymnastics, football, basketball, dance and aerobics – and that’s all in one day.

    Asked about her favourite memory during her time as a teacher, Ms Mackenzie she had “far too many” to mention. But she did recount leading the netball team to qualify for the national school’s netball competition in 2015, where the girls placed fourth in the country:

    “At the finals in Chester, I was checking the scoreboards and I overheard someone say ‘Ripon Grammar are the dark horses of this competition’ and I nearly burst with pride.
    “In the end – having drawn with Millfield, a school with more PE staff than we have actual staff, we made the third/fourth play-off, coming fourth in the country and the highest-placed state school throughout the whole competition.”


    Ms Mackenzie has “never been an elitist”, she added, and said her main priority is pupils enjoying being physically active.

    “Once, when I was demonstrating a long fly over the vaulting horse, a boy said to me, ‘I never thought anybody as old as you would be that good at gym.’ A backhanded compliment, but when he then had a go himself, he said ‘did you see me miss? I flew!”
    “I was buzzing for the rest of the day.”


    Ms Mackenzie was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. She said one pupil’s comment helper her mental health “no end” during the “worst time of her life":

    “It was touch and go for a while but when I pulled through the worst of the treatment and returned to school, a little boy said, ‘oh miss, your eyes have turned back on!’"





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    Ms Mackenzie's life shows little sign of slowing down in semi-retirement.

    She is also a deputy housemistress of the girls’ boarding house at Ripon Grammar School, which she will continue to do after stepping down as a teacher.

    Ms Mackenzie said:

    “Fortunately, I will still be around as will be continuing my boarding role, but RGS is in my blood.
    "I came here as a student, my children came here, I’ve worked here.
    "If you cut me through the middle, Ripon Grammar School will be stamped through me like a stick of rock.”


    She won the British Citizen Award for outstanding work tackling food poverty, through her charity, and encouraging sport in 2021. The same year she won the Stray Ferret community awards Harry's Heroes for her work helping disadvantaged families.

    Back to Basics, which was founded in 2019, provides free ingredients and guidance for a cheap and nutritious meal to those in need.

    Ms Mackenzie, whose mother Sylvia Grice died this year, said she hopes to invest more time into the initiative following retirement.

    She also runs Ripon City Netball Club – which she set up 10 years ago – as well as Ripon Swimming Academy. She said:

    “I intend to get fit — well fitter than I am now! — and enjoy spending time with my husband, John — not sure he will enjoy it that much!
    “I also plan to volunteer in my teacher daughter Laura’s primary school, Kirkby Malzeard, to get my PE fix. I also love reading and never have time, so reading and crossword puzzles will also fill my day.”


    Ms Mackenzie’s final day at Ripon Grammar School will be tomorrow.

    “I will miss the very essence of the place, the beauty of the grounds, the buildings, the fabulous pool, which is my favourite place, and, above all else, I will miss the kids.
    “What amazing people they all are – I adore them and have loved working with them.”