Mrs G Desbarres

What’s the best thing about the RGS/coming into work each day? One of the most rewarding aspects of coming into RGS each day is the sense of purpose and community. There’s a real culture of academic curiosity and ambition here, where both staff and students are genuinely engaged in learning.

What excites you about the School’s move to co-education? The move to co-education is incredibly exciting because it represents an opportunity to broaden perspectives and enrich the learning environment. Bringing together students from different backgrounds and experiences make for exciting classroom discussion and better prepare students for the diverse world beyond school.

What’s your life philosophy/motto in life? Be open to opportunities—you never know where they’ll lead. It’s a mindset that keeps me curious, resilient and willing to grow.

If you could change your name to anything, what would it be? Before the age of 5, I wanted to be called Buttercup – I have absolutely no idea why! 

If you were allowed one dream perk, what would it be? To have sushi for lunch everyday!

What luxury would you have on a desert island? Suncream.

What animal most reflects your personality? I think a dolphin.  I am friendly, curious and always keen to explore and enjoy whatever’s going on.

If you could choose one superhuman ability what would it be? Definitely teleporting!

Where is the best place you’ve travelled to and why? It’s really hard to pick just one, but two places stand out. Tokyo was amazing—it’s such a unique city, with this brilliant mix of ultra-modern and really deep-rooted tradition. One minute you’re surrounded by neon lights, the next you’re in a peaceful temple—it just felt quite magical. On the other hand, I love Hochgurgl in Austria for completely different reasons. Skiing in the Tyrolean Alps is just incredible—the views are stunning and it’s a great way to switch off and enjoy being outdoors. I think those two places sum up what I enjoy most when I travel.