GCSE Results Day 10

Staff Profile: Mr Freer

Mr Freer joined Our Lady’s at the start of September as the Lead Teacher of the humanities faculty. Let’s find out a bit more about him…

What is your role at Our Ladys? Lead Teacher of Humanities

Where did you work before you started here? I worked at a school in Halifax, West Yorkshire as a Curriculum Leader for Geography and History.

What were your first impressions of Our Lady’s? I was impressed with the pride that the students took in showing off their school and the displays for Black History Month. Also, how welcoming staff and students have been to me into their school community.

What is your favourite thing about being a teacher? What I love about being a Humanities teacher is that both Geography and History help us to understand the world outside our window. It is an honour to teach subjects that allow students to discover new ways of thinking, better explain and understand the natural and social worlds, think about alternative futures and what we could do to influence them. This leads to my favourite aspect of my job where students start to engage and debate current issues of significance. What does a typical day for Mr Freer look like? I’m woken up by my daughter before the birds are up (she wakes them!) and it’s all go from then. I’m the cook of the house so I will be making breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the day. I try and sneak in a bike ride up a hill or two. I go to Heaton Park or into town with my family. The only non-negotiable in my day is that I have to read for at least 45 mins before bed.

Where in the world would you most like to visit? I would love to visit the Himalayas in Nepal to see the mountains, glaciers and rivers in that unique area of the world.

What are your hobbies outside of school? I am a keen reader and I like to get outside as much as I can in my spare time. I played rugby growing up and I am a keen cyclist and also enjoying following it aswell. I like to watch the NFL and I support the Seattle Seahawks.

Favourite film or TV show? The Big Short

Favourite song? My Hero - Foo Fighters

Favourite food? Thai Food! What is your greatest achievement to date? Winning the under 7s singing competition at Blackpool Tower in 1998. Downhill from there.

Who would you most like to meet and why? I would love to meet Tony Blair or Gordon Brown. I would like to talk to them about their burning conviction to improve people’s lives, to fight for equality and promote social justice.

Best bit of advice for students at Our Lady’s? Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. We always love to hear how former students are getting on and it is always a delight when they get in touch to update us on their progress. Peace Olanrewaju left Our Lady’s in 2016 and now volunteers locally for the youth branch of the Equal Education Chances project. The 8.7% CLUB are a group of young leaders in different sectors that are passionate about diversity, inclusion and youth empowerment. We caught up with Peace for an catch up and to learn more…

1. What has been your career journey since leaving school? Studying GCSE Psychology opened many opportunities for me to discover my passions and interests both within education and outside of education. One of the best choices I made when going to college was to choose A-level courses I had a great interest in. Firstly, I researched some of the possible degree courses I would like to do at university, (Psychology, Sociology, Counselling Psychology, Psychotherapy) this provided a guideline as to which courses would guarantee my acceptance when applying. It is so important to choose courses you are passionate about because college/ sixth form involves a lot of independent learning, the more you enjoy your course the easier it is to study independently and enjoy your college experience. I studied A-level Sociology because I was interested in social policies and social systems. I also studied A-level Health and Social Care because it offered units that explored disability, prejudice, and mental health. Lastly, A-level Psychology offered modules and theories that explored the human mind in its complex state – super cool. Whilst at university, I got involved in many student ambassador schemes working for Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester as part of their widening participation ambassador. This was fulfilling as I had the opportunity to mentor students from widening participation backgrounds to follow their passions in higher education and encourage them to get involved in projects that support their cultural identity. In 2021, I graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a 2:1 Upper in BSc Education and Psychology. Upon finishing my undergraduate degree, I completed an MSc Psychology postgraduate degree at the University of Central Lancashire, I am due to graduate with Merit in the Winter of 2022. I am now in the process of applying for the next stage of education to be a fully accredited Educational Psychologist.

2. What do you do now? Since completing my MSc, I am working as an Access & Widening Participation Administrator for the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB). UCFB is a world-first in higher education, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and online degrees dedicated to the football and sports industry. My role requires designing and developing student support schemes/ scholarships that enable applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in higher education by ensuring they are supported financially, emotionally and academically. I am also the Labour Youth Leader for Blackley, in which I campaign for better youth programs and safe spaces for young people to get involved in. I am optimistic that in the near future, there will be youth projects happening every day all around Manchester. Currently, I am working on an educational project with a local charity Equal Education Chances. 8% CLUB is a project for young people by young people. We are campaigning for broadening inclusive programs and schemes, designing diverse educational resources, transforming curriculum, and redefining cultural identity in education. We work with local charities and schools to deliver informative skills workshops and we design inclusive and diverse educational resources that can be used in classrooms. Check out our project @ eightpercentclub

3. What are your personal or professional hopes, aspirations or goals for the future? My goal for the future is to transform the education system through inclusive practices and diversity projects. Education is a place where memories start, dreams begin, and identity grows. It is so important that we champion a more inclusive practice in the classroom to ensure students gain the best educational experience. Let’s bridge the gap in academic attainment by adopting inclusive practices. 4. What is your favourite memory from your time at school? My favourite memory must be the whole of Year 9 at Our Lady’s. Year 9 is a time when you get to enjoy the structures of school, develop the friendships you formed in the last 3 years and explore your personal and professional identity. If I could pick one memory, it would be Year 11 English lessons with Ms Taj. Although we had GCSEs coming up, it felt like a space of peace during a scary season, we found a way to lean on each other and praise one another’s success wholeheartedly. This is a memory I wish all students can experience in school.

5. Is there anything you would like to change from your time at school? Honestly, I wish I could sing or act so I could have been in the school productions (LOL). I still can’t do either now, but we’ll leave that to the artistically talented people.

6. Have any values or messages served you well from your time at Our Lady’s? The living mission statement, ‘To Know, Love and Serve God’, resonated with me as I believe God can show up in many ways. As God’s plan for our life is to live in harmony and peace, I believe that every act of kindness, charity project or workforce is a form of serving God. This living mission statement provides an understanding that everyone has their purpose and journey, and it is vital we use our qualities to serve and better the lives of others. I pray we see a rival in our land and all around the world, right now we need each other more than ever.