In 2013 I began my journey into education at Epsom and Ewell High School as an Art Technician. It was here that my curiosity and excitement for working with young people began.
The experience that I gained in the role became my springboard into teaching. I returned in 2015 as an ECT and I was excited to be leading from the front of the classroom. Working at EEHS I had many opportunities to contribute to the wider school community. Becoming the SCITT Lead I was able to share my knowledge to shape the next generation of educators. With an ever-evolving educational landscape being able to instil in trainees the importance of adaptability and empathy as well as equipping them with a range of teaching and learning strategies is crucial.
In 2019 I began my role as Head of Art and Design which then gave me more opportunities to develop colleagues within my department in both a mentoring and teaching capacity. Staff retention is a challenge facing many schools and I believe that cultivating a supportive and ambitious environment that allows staff to thrive is critical. I have a real passion for leading teacher development, and I had the privilege from September 2021 to work with our partner, Xavier Teaching School Hub on the ECF central team as a strategic lead. The role allowed me to impart my knowledge and experience across a wider network, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the new early career framework and how this now shapes the pathway of teachers entering the profession.
When I returned to EEHS, I led on the year two early career framework programme for the Art ECTs; delivering evidence-based seminars on areas such as developing intrinsic motivation to anticipating and addressing misconceptions. This opportunity was something I relished, not only in terms of leadership, but also creating and developing a network amongst other educators. I have embraced working within an evidence-based culture at EEHS and feel this has allowed me to continuously strengthen my pedagogy and put me in the best position to continue to grow as a leader. I am now Assistant Headteacher at Teddington School, another Trust school, and continue to strive for an excellent education for all pupils with their education at the heart of all that I do.