What is your role at Vinehall?
I am a form tutor and subject teacher of Year 3; I also teach Year 4 Learning Journey and RS and Year five RS.
What subject/s do you teach?
I teach many subjects and I am also a piano teacher, which I find very rewarding (more so if they practise!)
What made you want to become a teacher?
I like children! Also, after gaining my degree in music at Durham, I really wanted to stay in that beautiful city with my friends for another year and doing a post-graduate certificate in education enabled me to do that!
What do you enjoy most about Vinehall?
I couldn’t pick one thing – we are very lucky to have beautiful grounds (I love taking the Juniors to the outdoor fire-pit), great friends and colleagues, delicious food and of course I love Year 3 (yes, really!)
What are you planning that you are most excited about?
I am really looking forward to going to Plymouth soon to see Toby M in ‘Matilda’ – I adore musicals and have taught Toby so it is doubly exciting.
What is your best teaching memory?
I have so many! When I first began at Vinehall many moons ago, I remember being thrilled when a little boy who could not spell a single word correctly (and I mean a single word) composed an outstanding opening sentence to a piece of creative writing. I can still remember it: ‘It was the sort of day when even the stones huddled together for warmth …’ Goosebumps time!
When you are not in the classroom where are you most likely to be?
Walking my two Jack Russell terriers, feeding my chickens, reading, watching a film or crime drama with my two daughters or, unfortunately, doing the housework 😞
Something not many people know about you is …
Before I was at Vinehall I lived in Kenya for seven years and I once climbed Mount Kenya to Point Lenana, the third highest peak – the one you don’t need special climbing equipment for! I would dearly love to take my daughters there one day – I miss it. If I win the Lottery that is one thing I will do (but I need to buy a ticket for that to happen!)
