BET YOU DIDN’T KNOW… THE COSTELLO SCHOOL STUDENT TEACHER INTERVIEW

TEACHER: TRACEY JOY, PASTORAL LEAD FOR YEAR 7 AND STUDENT: CERYS, Y7

Cerys To Tracey

What inspired you to be a teacher?

I like to help young people reach their potential. Students can be so much fun and are energetic and I care about their future.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be?

I would be a Paramedic. It still involves helping others and that’s what I am good at. I always put others before myself. That would be a very rewarding job.

What’s the best part of your job?

Making students smile, fixing their problems, and giving them the confidence to be whoever they want to be.

Who are your heroines/heroes?

My hero is my dad. He taught me how to be a good person and value my education when I was young. He made me strong, kind and cherish every day.

Why did you choose to teach at Costello?

I grew up in the town so knew a lot about Costello. It has a good reputation and I was made to feel so welcome when I came for an interview and the staff and students were great.

Tell me a little about a teacher that inspired you. This teacher is one that I recall often. His name was Mr Eyles; he taught me when I was ten. He made jokes and we had fun with subjects like maths. He made me understand that to learn, you have to have fun! It’s his rhymes and songs that I remember to this day. He was an awesome teacher.

What is one exciting teaching method you use?

My favourite is when I have finished a subject and I want to see how much my students know. I play music and split my class into half. They get 2 minutes to write as many key words on the board about the subject. The side with the most words wins. It’s always a hit, because the students are out of their seats learning without realising.

What are your thoughts on education today?

I would like to see more vocational subjects and lessons that teach young people life skills that will set them up for life I feel that education tries to be a ‘one size fits all’ and wants to put square pegs in round holes. Education is also about how to manage in the world beyond the classroom. Not everyone is academic and schools should be allowed to give these students different options, that will give them just as many choices in life.

Tracey To Cerys

Tell me about yourself in 30 seconds.

I am a year 7 student and I am bubbly and loud. I love performing arts and sport.

What are your strengths?

I am confident. I have a growth mindset and I am not very fixed. I like to try new things.

What are your weaknesses?

Listening to advice because I like to think that I am always right.

Give one example of something you enjoy, respect or have achieved at Costello.

I enjoyed the Open Evening here at Costello because it was my first few weeks and out of everybody, I was picked to do a speech to the parents. I was very proud and it was one of my best experiences.

What or whom inspires you?

I am inspired by people who are on stage. I love performing arts and leave the theatre buzzing.

What are your plans for the future after leaving School?

I want to be an actress and on stage in the West End.

What is your favourite line from a film/song/book?

I don’t have a line, but my favourite film is Nativity because it shows how much fun school can be.

What is the one thing you would change about school life?

Food in the canteen. Sometimes the choices get boring!