Audrey I Whitefield
1930-2024
Former Senior Assistant Rector (1976-1994)

Audrey Whitefield, who passed away aged 90 on 10th July 2024, joined the staff of Drewsteignton School in September 1974 as a teacher of Mathematics after several years of teaching in local authority schools. Two years later, Drewsteignton School became The High School of Glasgow, and Audrey played a key role in the development and success of the School until her retirement in 1994. She was a superb teacher of pupils of all ages and her outstanding qualities were quickly recognised. In January 1976 she was appointed Senior Mistress with a particular responsibility for the welfare of the girls in the School. Her management responsibilities increased over the years, culminating in her appointment as Senior Assistant Rector.

For six years, Audrey was Housemistress of Moore House, a period when the House won the House Championship with such monotonous regularity that rivals began to circulate scurrilous rumours about unfair tactics. In truth, the successes stemmed from Audrey’s infectious enthusiasm and commitment as well as her ability to get the very best out of everybody. In due course she became responsible for the whole House System, skilfully adapting it to focus on both the personal and social development of each individual pupil and on caring for others, including supporting charities, whilst still encouraging inter-House competition in a wide range of activities. This approach, developed further by her successors in later years, proved so successful that it became a reason for parents to choose the High School for their children’s education and that a similar path was followed by other independent schools. This was just one area where Audrey made a significant personal contribution to the new High School’s reputation.

Other major aspects of school life for which Audrey took responsibility included the curriculum, the timetable, the personal and social education programme, the organisation of form staff and the computerised administrative system. She was determined that pupils should experience a well-balanced and varied curriculum, which was appropriate to each secondary age group, and she spent many hours adapting the timetable to ensure that as many pupils as possible in the senior year groups could study their personal choice of exam subjects. In everything which Audrey undertook her clarity of thought, her ability to find solutions to apparently intractable problems and her consummate professionalism were very evident.

Audrey was held in the greatest respect by pupils and staff, and indeed those who did not know her well were often in awe of her. She expected high standards of dress and appearance from all pupils in line with school policy, and woe betide any girl who flaunted the rules on make-up, skirt length or footwear. She was regarded by pupils as strict, but at the same time she was respected highly for her consistency and fairness. Children and colleagues who got to know her soon formed a deep affection for her. She was a confidante, a source of support and a comfort to countless pupils and members of staff in times of difficulty and distress. Whether pupils were struggling in their Maths or experiencing difficulties in their personal lives, they soon learned that she cared very much and was determined to help them to solve their problems. Her colleagues always found her to be a ready listener to their problems, however busy she might be. Her care and compassion for others stemmed from the strong Christian faith which underpinned her work and her life.

Audrey was certainly not a solemn, austere figure. She was dashing, stylish, debonair and endowed with a good sense of humour, as those who saw her performing The Slosh at school dances or twirling around and shaking about during a school visit to the pantomime could testify. In her days as Housemistress she was noted for organising adventurous outings such as the trip to the Isle of Arran in 1979 to conquer Goatfell. On that occasion, however, she left her young assistant, Colin Mair, to lead the assault on the mountain with a small group of pupils, whilst she, accompanied by the great bulk of the party, descended to lead an alternative assault on the cafes of Brodick. Perhaps in her defence, it could be argued that she saw that this could be the making of that young teacher, since he ended a distinguished career by becoming Rector of the High School exactly a quarter of a century later.

It was very fortunate for The High School of Glasgow that Audrey Whitefield was in a senior position at a crucial stage in its development. Every aspect of the School bore her hallmark and she influenced its whole ethos for good. Few people can have made such an outstanding contribution to a school as did Audrey.

Tribute written by Dr Robin G Easton (Former Rector, 1982-2004).