Staff Spotlight: Ellie Lemoine, Teacher of Geography & Head of Raphael

09/01/2025

Our pupils do amazing things every single day, but behind those achievements are all of the hardworking staff here at Merchant Taylors' School. In Staff Spotlights we look to explore the diverse backgrounds and skills of the people who make Merchant Taylors' a great place to be. This week we hear from Ellie Lemoine, Teacher of Geography & Head of Raphael

When did you join Merchant Taylors'?

I joined Merchant Taylors’ nearly 10 years ago, having worked as a teacher at Habs Boys and before that Magdalen College School, Oxford.

Tell us about your subject. What excites you about it? How did you get into it?

Born in Kenya and spending years in Kuwait, all over England and stints in Belgium and Singapore, I studied Geography and Anthropology at UCL. I spent a decade working in children’s television (mostly with the Disney Channel) and events management (including the magnificent Royal Albert Hall) as well as travelling. Spending time in Africa, South America, New Zealand and Asia was inspiring and a real privilege. I worked in Zimbabwe, taking the opportunity to trek in the Chimanimani Mountains, bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge and white-water raft down the Zambezi. I cycled down the world’s most dangerous road in Bolivia and slept in a hammock over the Amazon River. I skydived over Lake Wanaka in New Zealand and swam in a volcanic caldera Lake Toba in Indonesia having trekked with orangutan. It was time to try a real challenge so I decided to get a proper job and trained as a Geography teacher with the Institute of Education in London. Living and travelling abroad for much of my young life inspired a passion for the natural world and an interest in culture. I can think of nothing better than being paid to be in a classroom of inspiring young minds who constantly challenge and engage me in our discussions of how our landscapes are shaped by nature and people. Geography is such a dynamic subject and the fieldtrips during my career have taken me to Cuba, India, Iceland and Morocco so it’s a rather fantastic subject to teach! I also fell in love with a super cool Geography teacher and OMT called Piers Lemoine so we have a shared passion of the subject every day.

What are you most proud of outside of your work at school?

My children are my absolute joy and to spend time with them growing up brings me immense pride. Getting a 1st Class BA Hons from UCL after a difficult time. After that is learning to play the guitar for my Duke of Edinburgh skills requirement during GCSEs – this skill changed my life and I’m proud that I didn’t give up on being musical. Running the Berkhamsted Half Marathon when I even surprised myself as I crossed the line far sooner than I had hoped. Oh, and I had the privilege of meeting Queen Elizabeth II as a result of my work at the Royal Albert Hall, a woman whom I much respect and admire.

What did you study at A-Level?

I was rather lucky to spend two years in a boarding school for Sixth Form, Wycombe Abbey, where I met lifelong friends and experienced a different perspective. I studied English Literature, History and Geography and learnt, importantly, how to work hard to get the most out of life. And write a good essay.