I called at  St. Julian’s Infants for the first time in July 1988 having just gained a PGCE, complete with a very basic CV and a photo album of the work I’d done at UWIC. It was sports day, but the head, Liz Morgan, took time out to look at my photos, and was very complimentary. On the strength of that, she gave me 4 days supply right at the end of term in a reception class (in class 5) and I immediately felt at home. In October of 1989, having worked in few other schools in the meantime, including a month’ supply back in St Julian’s when I taught a class (including Mrs Lewis’s brother Alex…) I applied for a job in both the infant and junior school. The joint governing body in their infinite wisdom held the interviews on a Monday evening at 6 o’clock, and, having sat with the other candidates in the foyer of the junior school all evening, was eventually told at 9.30pm that I had the infant job I desperately wanted. Hooray!! I arrived officially on  the ‘somethingth’ of January 1990 and loved it from the start.

I’ve been happiest when teaching literacy and reading and I’m having huge trouble concentrating on writing this as people keep messaging and texting about the video! It’s bloomin’ hard work being famous I can tell you…

Anyway, I think the best thing about teaching is that you get to pretend. Being a bit of a thespian in my heyday, (my Lady Sneerwell from School for Scandal – not our school of course…is still talked about in hallowed tones at Leeds University) I love that every day in front of a class is a performance. Storytimes are truly special and I hope that over the years, I have passed on my passion for reading to the children that I’ve taught. Book weeks were magical times, and the picnics when we dressed up are some of my very most favourite times of all.

I have LOVED being involved with the choir and the many performances we’ve done over the years. Following amalgamation, I was glad of the chance to further integration between the two schools by having  Y3 join the Y2 choir. I think it’s been quite successful!

Most of all, I have had fun. Teaching is stressful often, boring never, and no two days are alike, but there is always fun to be had. Playing games with the children on yard duty, pretending to faint at the piano when they don’t sing well in assembly and singing (and signing) the 12 days of Christmas with my colleagues at Christmas are just some examples of the fun I’ve had over the years. Working with children might give you grey hair and a lined face, but they keep you young inside. You don’t stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing. I’ve had the best job ever. And I’m sad to be going, but I have so very many happy memories. Thank you to everyone I’ve been involved with over the years. It’s been wonderful!