What is your role at Blackheath High School? 

I am Head of German at Blackheath High.   

How long have you been teaching for? 

This is my ninth year of teaching, although I did take a short break to work for an events company in a German speaking sales role.  

Where did you study and what did you study?  

I studied German at the University of Leeds. It was great because there were so many different modules to choose from! I loved the module on film and cinema. After my BA, I undertook my PGCE at Leeds Trinity. I remember visiting Leeds for an open day and thinking ‘I have to live here’. This city still has a strong place in my heart – some of the best years of my life.  During my course, I also lived in Düsseldorf, Germany for a year, which was an incredible way to immerse oneself in the language and culture.    

How did you know that teaching was the profession for you? 

My mum is a teacher, as were both her parents, my cousin is also an assistant head of a primary school – I think it runs in the family! I remember during a History lesson in my A-levels, I was attempting to explain something to another student in order to help them understand a concept and my History teacher said, ‘you explained that really well! You would make a good teacher!’ I was quite a diligent student and did everything my teachers said, so here I am! I never really had a plan B… 

Why Blackheath High School? What sets the school apart from other schools? 

I grew up in this area and have always known of Blackheath High School. I have a family friend whose daughter used to go to Blackheath High and she has always sung its praises. The opportunities the school can offer to students are astounding and I love that I can be a part of that.  

What gets you out of bed in the morning? 

I think my favourite part of my job is having the autonomy to plan, create, teach and adapt my lessons. I’ve always been quite a creative person. In my experience, teachers generally tend to be quite critical of themselves, but the satisfaction you get out of delivering a lesson where students make good progress is such a lovely feeling.   

What kind of leader are you? 

I like to listen to others. I never make a decision without consulting colleagues and gathering their thoughts. Two heads are always better than one, and that applies to my teaching as well - I like to ask students for their feedback. I like to know what works and what doesn’t! 

Who are your role models? 

I had an amazing German teacher at school who encouraged me to speak German in a real-life context. He took us on a school trip to Berlin and watching him converse freely and articulately with the German people we met was so inspiring.      

Can you give us a fun fact about your career or life? 

I have performed stand-up comedy at Up the Creek in Greenwich! It was for ‘Beat the Blackout’, a five-minute set where you see if you can last the full duration on stage without getting gonged. It was pretty terrifying, but I did it and definitely something to tick off the bucket list!  

What are you most passionate about in life? 

I have always believed that it’s important to prioritise helping and supporting others, particularly young people. I get a huge sense of gratitude out of knowing I have helped someone.  

What is your favourite school lunch? 

I love the karaage chicken with rice! The food is all incredible – such an inventive salad bar too! 

Who is your favourite musician? 

I have a very varied music taste! Having reached a fairly high standard on the clarinet as a child and taking up the saxophone a little later in life, I am partial to a bit of jazz! There’s a great saxophonist called Masego who I’ve been listening to a lot recently and had the opportunity to see live last summer in Crystal Palace Park.