Lower Primary
Art and Design

I have always been interested in how children learn. Indeed, my work experience placement at the age of 15 was spent in a Special School observing the various approaches that were used to ensure individual pupils had the very best provision. This led me to a four-year teacher training degree, graduating in 2001 with a QTS with English qualification.

Since then, I have been teaching mainly across the KS2 age range in Blackpool, Lichfield and Walsall. I played a big part in the development of PE and School Sport in Blackpool between 2002 – 2006, and then led Science, English and Maths in Lichfield, Dr Samuel Johnson’s birthplace. I love connecting with pupils and their education. In every class I have had, there are pupils who love or hate Maths or English or Science.

But there is always a way to spark their interest and to promote enthusiasm for every subject. And I take pride in enabling children to learn in their own way.

When I am not working, I love playing squash and going for a run. My Squash partner beats me regularly, but we somehow manage to have a really good battle on the court each week! I was never a runner growing up and even in my 20s, but I took it upon myself to get a bit fitter as I entered my 30s, and found myself running the London Marathon in 2017! It was the biggest challenge of my life, but the sense of satisfaction was incredible.

I am excited to be working with Wolsey Hall Oxford because of the time I will be able to spend with individual pupils, discussing and guiding their learning. I look forward to welcoming you as your Tutor, and to joining you and your child on your learning journey.

I have a proven track record as a teacher in Primary Schools and as a lecturer focusing initially on Key Stage One and Early Years. However, I have taught all Primary age groups and children with Special Educational Needs and I have enjoyed mentoring both children and adults.

I have an affinity with homeschooling because it enables the needs of children and their individuality can be nurtured so effectively. Some of my friends’ children were homeschooled, and they went on to excel in their fields.

I like to help learners to become confident and enjoy their achievements. Having taken myself back to university to complete my Masters (in Education), I understand the pleasure that comes from continuing to learn. I recently attended a course on Phonics in The Early Years and Key Stage One and I’m a firm believer in lifelong learning.

I love to be reflective and am fully versed in study skills and pedagogy in education. I have successfully helped parents and children to develop these skills. I have spoken at educational conferences on work-based learning and education and have published a paper on online learning. I am flexible, adaptable, creative and enjoy working with others.

My hobbies are walking in the countryside and researching aspects of current affairs and science more deeply. I can draw and paint, and I like to dance.

I am delighted to be working with Wolsey Hall and to sharing my passion for education with you.

I have been a Primary School teacher for fourteen years. I enjoy inspiring children to learn through active learning and believe enjoyment should be the centre of everything. If a child is happy and enthused in what they are doing, they will want to learn. I am particularly fond of a memory when my class found a hidden den with a mystery inhabitant in the wildlife garden. This led to a creative curriculum that the children found motivating.

In my teacher training, I chose numeracy as my specialism, as I find it fulfilling to help pupils with their misconceptions and build links between concepts. For the last two years, I have held a Maths club, where the children enjoy mathematical challenges through games and puzzles; this enables them to develop their learning whilst having fun.

I have also enjoyed teaching literacy, especially early writing and phonics. I love using children’s storybooks to build learning, looking at the language used and sentence structures to create children’s own versions of the text. My teaching has been inspired by educators such as Pie Corbett, who is a master of storytelling.

I’m always keen to encourage children to be resilient and independent in their learning, thereby enabling them to reflect and improve.

When I am not teaching, I enjoy being outside, either running, cycling with my husband on our tandem or enjoying the garden. I am also a keen music lover and go to over thirty concerts every year.

I am looking forward to working with Wolsey Hall Oxford as I particularly enjoy working with pupils individually, preparing them for their future and ensuring that they reach their full potential.

I have always believed that knowledge and learning are amazing gifts. I have also always enjoyed being creative. Becoming a teacher has given me the opportunity engage with all of these, and I thoroughly enjoy what I do. Since qualifying with QTS in 2006, I have taught in schools in Birmingham and Solihull from Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 2. I enjoy working with younger children, as I believe that those early stages of education are vitally important. Children should be guided to learn in their own way, to express themselves fully, and to develop as individuals.

During my teaching career I have taken on different responsibilities including nursery manager, special educational needs support teacher and art leader. I currently divide my time between teaching in a Primary School and working as a Tutor with Wolsey Hall Oxford.

When not working, I have many interests. I have two energetic dogs with whom I enjoy discovering new walks. I am a keen gardener and grow many different vegetables each year, covering my entire garden and most windowsills in my house! I also love to cook and make meals with my own produce. I am a keen painter and I make and paint peg dolls and sew puppets, which I have used in my teaching throughout my career to help young children connect with their learning. I have also always loved languages. I am qualified to Level 2 in British Sign Language and I am currently learning German.

I enjoy helping children to find the path to achieving their goals and the challenge of engaging children with learning. The most rewarding part of being and educator is to see the joy on a child’s face when they understand a concept or achieve their next step. I look forward to helping your child in this way.

Having grown up within a family of educators I realised early on that I shared their passion and wanted to follow in their footsteps. I completed my Bachelor of Education in Ireland and since then have taught all ages across the Primary curriculum both at home in Ireland and further afield in the United Arab Emirates. I am now very excited to expand my horizons to Wolsey Hall Oxford and facilitate the learning of students around the globe.

I love the challenge of using children’s strengths and interests to improve their education outcomes and develop their skills in areas that are more challenging for them. This involves getting to know a child as an individual which is always a pleasure because it allows me to then share in their success on a deeper level. This success and progress is what I cherish about teaching and what motivates me to keep going.

I am a proactive, approachable and diligent teacher and am confident in offering a child-centred, active approach to education. It is a privilege to play a part in enabling children to reach their potential. Having taught online for the last number of months I have been inspired to continue with this learning platform. I have found that many children thrive in this environment and I am enjoying the learning curve it has created for me through this journey. It opens many doors for students whilst encouraging responsibility, organisation, and discipline. These are life-long skills which will contribute to creating life-long learners.

Outside of school I can be found swimming, reading or baking. I also like to play tennis and hike with my friends or family. I dream of travelling freely so this can also take up some time!