Which years you were at Grainville school?
1991 – 1996
What was your biggest challenge at school?
It took me a while to settle in. I’d been at Trinity Primary School which, at the time was a rural school with a small number of children. Moving from there to a school where there were more children in one year group than my primary school was difficult. Sadly, at the time, there was also a bit of bullying and a few pupils suffered but this was something the school rectified.
What was your greatest achievement at school?
I was very involved in school life albeit participating in sporting activities (I was very proud to represent the school), musical activities (I played the Trombone and played in the school Orchestra and a brass quartet called Red Hot Brass) therefore I have lots of positive memories of achievements in these fields. One achievement I was proud of was winning a public speaking competition – my group talked about the Tour De France which was made better shortly afterwards when we went on a day trip to France with Grainville and watched a stage of the epic cycling race.
Favourite lesson/activity?
History
Which aspects of Grainville School helped you become the person you are today?
Favourite memory of Grainville school?
I loved the school trips in Activity Week each summer participating in a cycling trip one year where two friends and I got lost in St Ouens and had a strip torn off us by the formidable Mrs Carter. The best trip was to Berlin in Y10. This occurred in 1994 and was only 5 years after the Berlin Wall had come down. Being a Jerseyman, you feel strong links to WWII and to see and experience history like this at such an impressionable age was awe inspiring.
What path did you take and who inspired you along the way to get to where you are today?
Leaving Grainville, I took my A Levels at Hautlieu. During my time there I volunteered at my old primary school as well as helping out Grouville Primary School on an overnight residential to St. Aubins’ Fort. I was hooked on wanting to be a primary school teacher as I wanted a career that would challenge me but one in which I could inspire young people as my teachers had done for me. I went to Edge Hill University in Lancashire before I took up my first teaching post in a town called Skelmersdale. A lot of the children I taught were disadvantaged and this prompted me to always go out of my way to go the extra mile – something I always aim to do today. 10 years later I became a headteacher. This was tough but something I enjoyed. I moved schools after 3 years and became the headteacher of Tarleton Community Primary School, sadly a school now well known as the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena Attack was one of my pupils.
Favourite aspects of your job?
Being a headteacher is about people. The happiest time of my day is being stood on the school gate in the morning and afternoon chatting to the children and parents. It is also great because when you’re the boss, you get to implement your wacky ideas – my favourite was taking 40 children to sleep in sleeping bags for the night in Blackpool Sea Life Centre’s shark tunnel!
What advice would you give to students looking at their career options?
Think about what you would be good at but most importantly what you enjoy – it’s going to be a long career. Have different options and try and talk to people in those jobs and consider what it would be like in that job initially but also what that might look like further down your career then ask yourself the question, ‘Will I be happy and fulfilled?’
If possible, volunteer – get some experience as you will be making a big commitment. Hopefully it will motivate you in your studies and put passion in your stomach.