Growing up in Leeds, Olivia discovered Classical Civilisation at Sixth Form College, before going on to study Classics at King’s College, Cambridge, where she learnt Latin and Greek from scratch. Whilst there, Olivia enjoyed four years coxing her college women’s first boat, organising events, playing netball and football and attending archaeological digs in the holidays.
After graduating in 2010, Olivia worked as an Assistant House Mistress and Classics Teacher in rural Dorset. Far removed from her own state-sector school days, she observed the impact of strong academics going hand in hand with excellent pastoral support. A brief spell in Mill Hill, North London, as Head of Classics maternity cover confirmed that teaching was for her. She then moved to King’s School, Worcester as a Classics teacher, also trying her hand at coaching and leading the junior girls’ rowing squad, alongside training for QTS with the University of Worcester.
After getting married in 2014, Olivia relocated to Surbiton, and has enjoyed being a member of the Classics Department at Surbiton High School ever since, becoming Head of Classics in 2019 alongside being an A-level Examiner and Assistant Oxbridge Coordinator. When she’s not in the classroom, Olivia can probably be found on the side of a muddy football pitch cheering on her two young sons, going for a run or just reading a good book.