Personal History
After 4 years working as a civil servant, a cartographic draughtsman in the Ministry of Defence, following retraining, I began teaching in Suffolk in 1973. I have always had a special interest in Special Educational Needs.
I have worked primarily in the secondary sector, but started my career at Stoke by Nayland Middle school, as an English teacher.
I worked as a specialist Art & design teacher at Nacton Heath and Copleston High schools from 1974 to 1984.
I have worked primarily on a part time basis since 1984, due to my son's ongoing health problems.
Since 1984 I have worked as a general support teacher in the Area Special class at Copleston, covering English, Maths and Art, and in the Art and Humanities Departments.
In my spare time, I attended a retraining course at Suffolk PDC, aimed at primary level teaching and subsequently gained experience on supply at Thomas Wolsey Special School and as a volunteer at a local primary school.
Since 1992, I have worked at Parkside Pupil Referral Unit as a specialist Art teacher.
I embarked on a BA (Hons.) degree course in Education in 1992 with APU at Belstead after completing my thesis on Art and Special Needs in 1998. I am currently studying for an MA in Education, currently completing a module on Managing Pupil Behaviour. Others areas of interest include ICT in Education, particularly Open Source Software in relation to Education.
My son has "special needs", and like an increasing number of young people, has had health problems for a number of years. He is currently being managed for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME), has been on part time schooling for 3 years and at present is being tutored at home . He is due to sit a limited GCSE exam programme this year.
I am a member of the NUT and have taken an active interest in recent developments within Education, both Nationally and Locally.
Teaching since 1973 focusing on ;
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