Why do I teach?

I started teaching straight after I finished university in 2007. Originally a physics graduate, I became acutely aware that physics (and science) was a subject the vast majority of students didn’t feel was relevant to their everyday lives as well as feeling it was a subject they could access. I wanted to help influence a change and encourage young people to engage in physics through education. I completed my PGCE in 2008 and taught secondary science in a variety of schools across England.
After 10 years in the classroom, I developed an interest in supporting colleagues with developing their teaching and learning skills, in particular, early career teachers in their first few years of teaching. I joined the Institute of Physics as a development coach in 2018 and led workshops for physics teachers, mentoring for early career teachers as well as working with schools to develop equity, diversity and inclusion for all students in physics and science. I also was part of the Institute’s professional practice group which explored how we could work with teachers to bring research backed teaching approaches into the classroom. I completed my Master’s degree in Education Management and Leadership at Exeter University in 2020 and now work as a Lecturer in Education at Manchester Metropolitan University.