Teaching has always been an ambition of mine. My primary school years were some of the most memorable years of my life, and I’ve been fortunate to be taught by—and later work alongside—some very influential teachers who left a lasting impression on me.
I aspired to be like them: to impact and influence children’s lives through education and by being a positive role model.
I aspire to promote a life and love of learning to all, whilst supporting children’s wellbeing in and out of the classroom. I believe all children should have the opportunity of an enriched, hands-on curriculum, in a school which has a safe, welcoming environment, where children can be themselves and feel comfortable. This will aid their ability to learn, encouraging them to be lifelong learners and thrive within such a setting.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked with children aged from birth to 11 years across a range of settings. My journey began in an early years setting, but over time I realised my heart lies within the school environment. I was a teaching assistant and phonics lead at Bishop Alexander before becoming a teacher, and I’ve now worked at the academy for over 10 years.
After leaving secondary school with qualifications—but not all the ones I needed to teach—I became even more determined to follow my dream. That experience helped me better understand the challenges many young people face in education. I now see my route as an advantage: it’s given me a broad foundation of knowledge and experience across different roles and settings.
I trained through the Lincolnshire SCITT (in partnership with L.E.A.D. and the University of Lincoln) and completed my training at Bishop Alexander. That experience strengthened my understanding of the curriculum and gave me the confidence to plan, teach and assess effectively. At the end of my training year, I secured my first teaching post in Year 2. I’m now at the end of my ECT journey and excited to take on further responsibilities, including subject leadership—and in the future, I’ll be looking into completing NPQs.
I would encourage anyone thinking of becoming a teacher to come and see what happens in school, if they want to make a positive impact on students’ lives, engaging in lifelong learning, they should apply. The opportunity to inspire the next generation and see students thrive is a powerful motivator. Every day is different and there are daily challenges, but it is so rewarding creating a safe and caring environment where we can all learn together, promoting equality, diversity and inclusion, inspiring aspirational young minds.
