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Ali Kirkman: My time at Hills

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After 50 years of sixth form education, Hills Road has an incredibly diverse and rich alumni base. This year we are meeting some of them in a new article series, My Time at Hills. First up: our very own Ali Kirkman, Vice-Principal of Hills Road Sixth Form College.

I joined Hills Road as a student in 1991, bright-eyed and ready to embark on my A levels in English Literature, German and French. Back then, as a 16-year-old, my biggest loves were languages, books and singing. I’m not sure much has changed! I still remember singing carols in St John’s College chapel with the College choir and now every Hills Road Christmas carol service feels like a full-circle moment.

A quote from Ali Kirkman

Life-long connections

When I think back to those Hills Road years, it’s the friendships and inspirational teachers that stand out. But one memory in particular has stayed with me: my experience on Hills Road’s first-ever German work exchange to Hamburg. I spent two weeks working in a children’s home and I quickly found myself picking up German words for things I didn’t even know in English! The experience was so impactful that I returned to the same children’s home for a year before university. I’ve been lucky enough to stay connected with some of those friends from Hamburg, including my penpal who visited me with his family just last year, 32 years on from when we first met!​

And speaking of long-lasting connections – my German teacher from all those years ago still works here and still runs the work experience exchange to Hamburg. It’s heart-warming to know this programme is still going strong and that the same dedication to language education is still fueling Hills Road’s community, giving students a taste of real-world language learning and cultural exchange. Multilingualism is more than just a skill; it’s a bridge to tolerance, empathy and global collaboration. In a world where we desperately need to find collective solutions to the problems we face as a global community, learning languages has never been so important.​​

After Hills Road, I went on to study German and French at Oxford, which sparked a career that’s been a whirlwind of languages, education and travel. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to live and work in diverse corners of the world – France, Germany, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and for nearly ten years, Malaysia. When I first packed my bags for Malaysia at the age of 25, my mum reminded me of the tales my English teacher at Hills Road used to tell us about his own adventures in Singapore. And now, here I am, back at Hills Road, playing a part in the very institution that first sparked these passions.​

A quote from Ali Kirkman

Advice for today's students

To the students walking the corridors of Hills Road today, here’s my advice: make the most of everything this place has to offer. Hills Road is like a microcosm of the world beyond, with so many opportunities, clubs, societies and people to learn from. Whatever your interest – from astronomy to art, debate to dance – you’ll find a community here that shares it. Dive in, explore and make the most of these opportunities to connect, because those connections may be ones you carry for life.​

As both Hills Road and I celebrate our 50th milestones this year, my hope is that it remains a place of inspiration for students and staff alike. Hills has always been a community of curiosity, opportunity and a bit of magic, and I’d like to think that will carry on for another 50 years and beyond.​

50th anniversary celebrations

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