My undergraduate degree was in mathematics, a subject I had enjoyed for many years. But it was the statistics modules that I took during my degree that I really enjoyed. I also spent some of my time at university assisting in local schools by way of some voluntary work and this helped convince me to go on to a PGCE in preparation for a teaching career.
The PGCE was very intense, and everything we did was focused on our work in the classroom – from very early on in the year we were observing lessons and trying to understand how to pass our mathematical skills on to the children.
I’m now in my fourth school. I’ve worked in a comprehensive school, a technology college, a grammar school and now back to a comprehensive school.
I enjoy the challenge of making mathematics and statistics engaging to students at all levels. Statistics seems to be an area that students can see the use of, and looking at risk, or lottery, or more complex situations like medical issues are interesting to students at all levels. I’ve completed an MA in School Development and after working as a head of department I am now an advanced skills teacher so I’m working with other teachers to help them improve their teaching – I really enjoy making a difference in classrooms across the school. I’m keen to find new ways of making mathematics and statistics appeal to students in order that they might learn the subject more successfully.