Little Adders

With over 25 years of experience, I have taught in a wide range of schools with children of varying social, ethnic and cultural origins. My work has included whole-class teaching, one-to-one and small group work and booster and intervention groups.

In all of my teaching, I have tried to include two driving notions: quality of provision, and opportunities for improvement. In my opinion, the education that children receive rides on these two ideas. We have to provide them with work that is of sufficient quality that they will want to do it and we need to provide them with opportunities to do things that they wouldn't ordinarily do in the world beyond the school gates. I am also strongly of the opinion that education should be fully inclusive and that everybody has the right to the best quality of education available.

Part of my education has involved learning to play musical instruments and I am proficient in playing several brass and woodwind instruments including the Recorder, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba and Bflat Bass. I have taken exams on the Piano and play to a reasonable standard. In Education, I have been able to teach and support the teaching of the violin, Flute, Clarinet, Ukulele, Guitar, Euphonium, Harp, Trombone and many other instruments.

After graduating with a BA Combined Studies in English and History in 1987, I spent nearly ten years in the financial services industry and sales and marketing. During this time I received additional professional training in management, sales, and aspects of financial services, including accounting and lending practices. In 1995 I started a one-year graduate training course in Primary Education. I have since had training in computing, music, modern foreign languages and Special Needs education.

I am married with two grown-up children, both of whom have had needed some additional support because of Special Needs issues during their own education. Outside the classroom, I am a keen amateur musician. I am principal Euphonium for the Wigston Enterprise band and I support the training bands with their performances. I am also a member of LOPs, an amateur group that produces musicals and operettas in a local theatre. For the past five years, I have been Chairman of this group.