After my degree in English literature from Aberystwyth University, I completed a PGCE with Leicester University before starting my teaching career in a primary school in Northampton. 35 years later I took early retirement after a career that included a spell as a Primary Maths Advisory Teacher, helping to introduce and make sense of the first National Curriculum in 1988, and being the Headteacher of two Primary schools, one in Wellingborough and one in Stamford, for a total of 20 years. My particular interests during this period was developing an active ‘doing’ curriculum for all children and working across agencies to co-ordinate individualised support for families whose children had a variety of Special Educational Needs.
After a short spell of doing nothing I began volunteering with FOPP in 2013, supporting in education in both the male and female prisons. I was a Director of FOPP during this time. I also worked part time for Tesco, delivering shopping around North Norfolk and south east Lincolnshire.
Following a chance meeting with a colleague who had recently left the NHS and was now working in a specialist school for children with autism, I began volunteering at this school teaching art and craft skills one day a week. Over the next eighteen months, I moved from being a volunteer, to being a keyworker, to being a teacher for four children with complex developmental needs and finally to being the Principal of the school for the last four years of my working life. Working with a large team of dedicated individuals including teachers, Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, an Educational Psychologist and a number of dedicated and knowledgeable Keyworkers was a great privilege and a wonderful way to finish my formal teaching career.
Once COVID restrictions were lifted within the prison, I again volunteered with FOPP and now spend half a day in the male Art class each week and half a day in the female Library teaching any prisoners who would like to learn, how to knit. I also do a shift most weeks in the Visitor Centre Tea Bar. I have very recently, once again, become a Director of FOPP.
