& with Mrs. Barnes

by: Taksal G.

When did you start working at Westonbirt?

This is my 5th year. When I first came, I was a media teacher and then it wasn't long after that when I started as head of sixth form. And January last year, I became deputy head.

How do you ensure that all children at Westonbirt are happy and safe?

It is a collective responsibility. It’s a responsibility of every party that’s invested in that child. It’s everyone from tutors, teachers, student, parents, nurses, to Mrs Dangerfield and my role is to make sure that everyone is working together in a way that is good for the child.

Where do you find your motivation comes from?

My motivation comes mainly from people around me. I feel really motivated by my colleagues and very motivated by the pupils. They chall boundless energy and that gives me a lot of m the job and for working with young people.

Why do you like Westonbirt so much?

I love the quirks. The fact that we ’ re in this incredible environment which otherwise, I wouldn’t have access to on a daily basis. It really is inspiring. I love working with my colleagues.

What does leadership mean to you?

I think for me, it’s interesting; I was asked a very similar question not that long ago and I was sat delivering a presentation and somebody quite senior said to me, do you feel that you need to come up with all the answers? And I said absolutely not, that’s not my responsibility; in leadership mine is to recognise when people have answers and therefore how we can work with those answers. So I think, leadership is about teamwork and driving teams forward.

What is the best thing about your job?

The very best bit is, the feeling you ’ re left with at the end of a day, at the end of a term, at the end of a year. That reflective moment when you look back and you realise your amazing journey you ’ ve been on with all these amazing people. Whenever you get to speech day at the end of the year, and a year 13 student is accepting awards for all the things that they have done here and to know that you were a part of that is really rewarding.

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

I’ll tell you what, if I wasn’t teaching, I’m would be on a boat, sailing across the world. I love sailing. I often visit the idea of just packing up my bag and sailing around the world but then I come back to the real world and realise that maybe I’m not ready to give up everything I’ve worked towards quite yet!