As part of our 50 Years of Girls at Rugby School celebrations, we are reconnecting with former female Rugbeians and staff to reflect on their time at Rugby and explore the paths their careers have taken since leaving.

To mark International Women’s Day, we are sharing a series of features on current student Lana, Deputy Head Lara Hampton, and Rugbeian Beth Harvey-Jones, now a researcher in clinical oncology.

In this feature, Deputy Head Lara Hampton reflects on her journey at Rugby and the path that led her to her current role.

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to pursue a career as a teacher, and later a Deputy Head?

I was drawn to teaching because I’ve always enjoyed communicating ideas, helping others discover and understand something new and creating an environment where students can discuss, collaborate and challenge ideas so they develop their own thinking. Teaching offers the opportunity to do that every day.

I was also drawn to the sense that you can make a genuine difference in young people’s lives, helping them to grow in confidence, curiosity and independence. It is a real privilege to support and motivate students here at Rugby. Boarding schools are strong communities and being part of an environment where staff and students live and work together towards shared goals is incredibly rewarding.

I began at Rugby as Director of Sport, which taught me a great deal about organisation, people and leadership. I later became interested in the pastoral side of school life and went on to become Housemistress of Stanley, having previously lived in School House and Michell while Dr Hampton was DHm and then Hm.

Over time, I became more aware of how leadership can shape the environment in which students and staff thrive. This led me to join SMT, first as Senior Hm, then Deputy Head (Co-curricular), and now Senior Deputy Head.

I have been very fortunate that whenever I felt ready for a new challenge, a door seemed to open at Rugby. I have loved each role and learnt a great deal from each. While I still get a real buzz from teaching Biology and Sports Science and taking a sports team, I also value the opportunity to contribute to the wider culture and direction of the School.

In your current role as Deputy Head, what do you enjoy most?

What I enjoy most is the variety of the role and the sense that every day matters. No two days are the same, and the role brings opportunities to work with students, support colleagues and help shape the strategic direction of the School.

One of the most rewarding aspects is supporting young people through important, and sometimes challenging, moments in their lives and watching them develop in confidence and maturity during their time here. Seeing that development over the years is incredibly fulfilling.

What was the biggest challenge you faced within your career and how did you overcome it?

One of the greatest challenges has been supporting students and colleagues through difficult personal situations while living and working so closely within the School community. In a boarding environment, the boundaries between work and personal life are often blurred, and you are alongside people during some of the most challenging and life-changing moments they experience.

Over time I have come to see this not simply as a job but as a vocation and a life choice. What helps is remembering the purpose behind the work, listening carefully and drawing on the strength and wisdom of colleagues. In a school community like Rugby, no one faces their challenges alone.

Although these moments can be challenging, they are also some of the most meaningful aspects of the role. Being able to support someone through a difficult time and see them grow in confidence and resilience afterwards is a powerful reminder of why working in a school like Rugby is such a privilege.

Are there any colleagues who had a lasting impact on you during your time here, and what are some of your favourite memories?

I have been very fortunate to work alongside many inspiring colleagues during my time at Rugby. I have been particularly lucky to have Dr Hampton as a mentor. Having been a Housemaster and later Senior Deputy before me, he understood the challenges of the roles and has always been there with his time and advice, helping me work through some of the more difficult moments along the way.

Earlier in my career, I also had the privilege of working for two inspirational Housemistresses as a tutor, Sally Rosser in Tudor and Monica Barlow in Bradley. Both were wonderful role models and gave me a great deal to think about in terms of leadership, care for students and the importance of strong house communities.

There have also been many memorable experiences with students. I was fortunate to help start the first girls’ sports tours to Argentina and later Australia, as well as leading a World Challenge expedition to Bolivia and many Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. Closer to home, events such as the Pushcart and House Singing have provided some wonderful moments, including the year a group of staff secretly entered House Singing with Dancing Queen by ABBA.

Rugby has given me some very close friendships. Working in such a strong community means colleagues often become lifelong friends, which is something I value enormously.

This year marks 50 years since girls joined Rugby School - an incredible milestone. Looking back, how have you seen the School change during your time here?

It has been fascinating reflect on how the School has evolved. One of the most noticeable shifts has been a growing emphasis on pastoral care and the compassion shown to both students and staff. This feels like a very positive development and something that has strengthened the whole community.

I was lucky enough to chat with Jill Rogers, who was one of the first girls at Rugby, and hearing her perspective really brought home how far the School has come. Girls are now fully embedded in every aspect of school life, academically, socially and in leadership, and their presence has enriched the community enormously.

Another development that has had a profound impact during my time here has been the Arnold Foundation. It began early in my time at Rugby and has grown into something truly established and transformative within the School. Having Arnold Foundation students as part of the community has enriched Rugby enormously, and getting to know some of those students closely has genuinely been life-changing for me.

Several years ago, we did a significant piece of work on our School values. Having those clearly articulated and shared has been very powerful. They provide a kind of North Star for the community, reminding us of the importance of being kind and inclusive, supporting one another, and not being afraid of failure as part of learning and growth.

What advice would you give to the girls currently at Rugby, or those thinking of joining?

My advice is always to embrace the opportunities that Rugby offers and be willing to try things that might feel a little outside your comfort zone. School is a time to explore interests, discover new strengths and build confidence in who you are.

As Hm of Stanley, I was responsible for many of the girls joining the Sixth Form, so I met lots of prospective girls who came to visit and were considering whether Rugby might be the right place for them. I always loved those conversations and helping them imagine what life here might offer, the opportunities, the friendships and the sense of community they would become part of.

Don’t be afraid of getting things wrong along the way. Some of the most valuable experiences come from taking a risk, learning from mistakes, and trying again.

Most importantly, be kind to those around you and make the most of the friendships and community that develop here. Those relationships, as much as the achievements, are often what people remember most fondly about their time at Rugby.  It is lovely to see Rugbeians whose bridesmaids and children’s godparents are their former Housemates.

Is there anything you wish you had known before joining the School?

Looking back, I hadn’t appreciated the strength of the community. Rugby is a place where people genuinely support one another, and that becomes clearer the longer you are here.

I also don’t think I fully realised at the start just how many opportunities the School would offer, both for students and for staff. Over the years I have been fortunate to take on a variety of roles, travel with students and be involved in so many different aspects of school life. Those experiences have been some of the most rewarding parts of my time here.

More than anything, I wish I had known just how special the community would become to me. The friendships, shared experiences and sense of purpose are what make Rugby such a remarkable place to work and to be part of.

What does it mean to you to be part of Rugby’s history, especially in this 50th anniversary year of girls at the School?

It feels like a real privilege to have played even a small part in the School’s story during such an important period. Having lived and worked at Rugby for the past 24 years, I have been fortunate to see the School continue to evolve while holding onto the traditions that make it so special. The 50th anniversary of girls at Rugby is a wonderful moment to reflect on how far the School has come and to celebrate the many girls who have contributed so much to the life of the community.

For me, it brings to mind an idea from the book Legacy about ‘leaving the jersey in a better place’. This is the sense that you are only ever a temporary custodian of something bigger than yourself. During your time, you do your best to care for it, contribute to it and hopefully leave it in a slightly better place for the next generation.

That is how I think about Rugby. It is a community with deep traditions, but one that continues to grow and evolve. Having worked with so many talented and inspiring young people and colleagues over the years, I feel very fortunate to have been part of that journey and to have helped, in some small way, pass it on to those who come next.