Case Studies

What set you on the path to teaching?

When I was about 17 I had already loved History for many years and started to think about how I could find a meaningful and exciting career in the subject that I really enjoyed. Teaching History ticked every box  and really was an inevitable path for me due to the personal impact that my previous History teachers had on me whilst I was at school. It was my A Level History teacher who told me that she always knew she wanted to teach but avoided it at first and now wishes she had spent that time further teaching. This was partly what inspired me to train to be a teacher straight out of university!

I did not start university with a set plan to teach, but rather it was an idea to explore. I explored other avenues, which I would encourage other people to do but they did not suit me at all. I was fortunate to gain a lot of work experience in schools through my dissertation supervisor, and connections I had elsewhere in teaching and this set me on the path to where I am today. I feel fortunate and grateful for how I have reached this position and would not change it for the world.

What was it that attracted you to working at Springwest Academy?

My teacher training route was great for many reasons, one of which being the range of different schools I was able to work in and experience. I joined Springwest Academy as a teacher trainee when (despite positive experiences elsewhere) I was wondering if teaching was really for me. However, I remember my first few weeks at Springwest when I genuinely could not stop smiling and I still feel the same now. Springwest offers such a rewarding and positive environment, through both staff and student relationships. I was surrounded by happy and helpful colleagues who I could easily connect with and I felt well-supported by everybody around me. Likewise, I am lucky to work with so many fantastic students every day who are a key part of the positive environment in our classroom. No two days are ever the same at Springwest and that is another of the things that keeps me hooked!

What do you like the most about teaching History?

As much as I do love History for the subject content, I love teaching it the most for the skills and perspectives it can offer. In a modern age the ability to decipher sources of information, different motives and causes and consequences is fundamental. History is a really engaging way through which to do this as there are so many angles through which we can access this and talk about it.

At the end of the day everybody has History. Springwest is wonderfully diverse and whilst schools do not have the time or scope to teach all histories at Springwest we do teach the ability to be curious in your own history and the ability to explore it. Our history is the making of us and it is very rewarding to explore that in the classroom with so many students.