My journey into education was perhaps a little different from most.

I originally studied Law and completed a law degree before realising my passion lay elsewhere. After spending time observing in schools, I discovered something that immediately felt right. I loved working with children. I could relate to them, and they could relate to me.

I still remember those early days in the classroom and the nerves that came with them. Walking into a school for the first time, surrounded by experienced teachers and energetic children, I often questioned whether I truly belonged there.

One of my biggest challenges was something many people would probably find surprising. Simply approaching a child and starting a conversation felt daunting. Looking back now, it's hard to believe that a career spanning more than 20 years started with those first nervous conversations.

700 children

Over the past 20 years, more than 700 children have passed through my care.

I've worked with children who loved learning and children who avoided it. I've supported children who were thriving and others who doubted themselves entirely.

I've met children who believed they weren't good at maths, children who disliked reading and children who had become anxious about school. I've also seen what can happen when the right support, encouragement and understanding are put in place.

Those experiences taught me that children are often far more capable than they realise. I've seen children make progress when others had almost given up on them. I've seen confidence return to children who had convinced themselves they weren't good enough.

I've seen small breakthroughs become life-changing moments.

A Career Built Through Experience

My career has taken me into schools across London, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Rather than spending my entire career in one setting, I chose to experience as many different educational environments as possible. I've worked in village schools, inner-city schools, mainstream classrooms, specialist SEN settings and schools facing very different challenges.

Each school taught me something new.

Each child taught me something new.

Each challenge taught me something new.

Every experience added another piece to the puzzle.

These experiences helped me develop a deeper understanding of what works, what doesn't and, perhaps most importantly, what I need to do to correct something.

For me, it has never been about finding a quick fix or applying the same approach to everyone. Every child arrives with their own experiences, strengths, challenges and personality. What works for one child may not work for another.

What I enjoy most is taking the time to understand the child in front of me and helping them recognise what they are capable of achieving.

After all these years in education, there is still one moment that stands out above all others.