Ruth Springer

BA Modern History 1996
Assistant Headteacher at Oaklands School
JCR President 1997–1998

Ruth has been teaching History in East London for over 20 years and is an Assistant Headteacher in a large secondary school in Bethnal Green. Alongside her teaching, she is also a coach and leadership trainer, working predominantly with Headteachers and their leadership teams.

“Teaching is an amazing profession. Every day is full of the stuff of life—triumphs and disasters, highs and lows, and everything in between. Levity and gravity sit at the heart of a happy school, and this creates an incredible dynamic to be part of. I love the buzz of a busy playground, and the quiet intensity of an art exam. Seemingly mundane and micro interactions can form the bulk of your day, yet everything you do matters. You’re fully aware you are playing an important part in a young person’s journey into adulthood, yet the buoyancy of school life means you hardly notice the days go by. Sometimes it’s not until you see the 11-year-olds you welcomed in Year 7 stepping out into the world at 18 that you remember the importance of what you do.”

Ruth attended a state comprehensive in Southampton, and Oxford wasn’t on her radar until her sixth-form History teacher suggested it. It was not a well-trodden path for students from her school, and she struggled at first to muster the confidence she perceived others to have. She soon learnt the value of belonging to the College community, and grew to love the close-knit nature of College life. In her second year, Ruth was JCR President, and says: “I have many happy memories of working with others on campaigns large and small…from protesting about tuition fees, to organising rent strikes, to installing condom machines in the College laundry! The theme of belonging and contributing to the communities I’m part of has been a constant in my life and I’m very grateful for my time at Keble, especially for the enduring friendships it fostered.”