Four kids, 4,000 pupils ... now that’s a handful!
HOMESCHOOLING two children would be enough for many.
Add to that the care of not one, but two babies born a year apart, and most of us would turn grey.
But include a highly demanding day job as managing director of a chain of some 19 private schools and nurseries, providing education for some 4,000 children in the middle of a pandemic — and, well, you can see why we felt libby nicholas was a worthy finalist in our awards.
ex-headmistress libby, 41, lives in surrey with her partner, Benedick Ashmoreshort, 44, and children isabella, 13, Hero, eight, Beaumont, 19 months and Benedict, seven months.
While giving birth last July in the pandemic was stressful enough, libby had only given birth 12 months previously.
Also, libby, as managing director of Dukes education, was responsible for the learning for thousands of other children.
Despite being regarded as vulnerable during her pregnancy, libby regularly toured ‘her’ schools. she was back in class in september last year — two months after Benedict’s birth.
‘Teachers have been total heroes. everyone’s gone the extra mile,’ says libby.
she was even in school on new
Year’s eve to train parents to supervise covid testing.
‘i would have one baby in my arms and another crawling at my feet during Zoom meetings,’ she says. ‘Then one of the girls would ask for help with a lesson.’
The whole family are hugely proud of libby’s dedication.
‘i worry i am shortchanging my own children,’ says libby, whose day starts at 6am. ‘But a few weeks ago issy told me: “mum, we are fine. We understand you have 4,000 others to look after.” ’