Victoria Downes

My career in education began on completion of my BTEC National Diploma, over 20 years ago. I always knew that I wanted to work with children, and began working as an Early Years Practitioner in a Private Day Nursery, teaching the Foundation Stage Curriculum. I thoroughly enjoyed planning exciting opportunities to allow children to explore new experiences to learn through play.

In 2003, I relocated to Staffordshire, and gained employment Early Years Practitioner and HLTA within a Primary School. This position, required me to teach children age three to eleven, covering classes throughout the school in a variety of primary subjects. This post allowed me to gain an excellent understanding of the primary curriculum and the innovative, and exciting ways classes can be taught to engage children of all ages.Working in school inspired me to return to education to become a qualified teacher.

In 2010 I graduated with Honours in Education Studies, and then went on to complete a Post Graduate Certificate in Education. Since then, I have worked in a variety of educational settings including secondary schools and FE settings.

I have a passion for teaching, and learning, and dedicate much of my spare time to working with a local charity writing and delivering courses. In 2016, I gained multiple awards for my commitment to charity working, and for, improving lives through education

Throughout my career, I have taken every opportunity to improve my professional development, ensuring that my skills remain current.  I am currently studying a Master’s with the Open University in Online and Distance Learning. In addition to this, I am training to teach English as a second language.

I am motivated, enthusiastic and place learners at the heart of everything I do. I have the ability to, remain learner focused, and always strive to produce lessons which are interesting, innovative, inclusive and fun!

Lauren Galligan

I’m Lauren, a Science teacher from Lancashire. I hold a Masters degree in Chemistry and spent time in research before completing my PGCE at the University of Warwick. My passion for Science lies with the environment and energy generation. I think it is important for young people to have an understanding of the main issues flooding the news, such as climate change and drug development. Through my teaching I hope to inspire students to actively learn about new developments within Science, get involved in their own ways, and enjoy discussions on topics they are passionate about.A particular passion of mine is to promote equal opportunities, with my ultimate aim being to stimulate and provide pathways for all students to achieve their full potential. When I’m not teaching I enjoy arts and crafts, dance, and being with animals. I’m currently learning to speak French and to play the guitar too!

Gretchen Ivey

I am from the USA originally but I have been living and working as a teacher in the UK for 16 years. I enjoy teaching a variety of subjects and age groups. When I am not working I enjoy writing and practicing martial arts. I enjoy traveling and restoring old furniture.

Philip Hulson

Ella Hall

My name is Ella, and I have been teaching for 4 years. After graduating in 2013, I moved to Melbourne and taught grade 6 for 2 years at a large comprehensive school. Most recently I taught in an alternative provision for students who have been excluded from mainstream education, and have qualifications in both dyslexia therapy and working with students with ASD. I am currently completing an MSc Psychology, and am looking forward to the flexibility online teaching can offer, whilst being very excited to experience a new, 21^st century style of teaching!

Ermela Hermida

I am an expert in the planning and delivery of Modern Foreign Languages from Key Stage 1 – KS2 and I have worked in the London Boroughs of Brent, Newham and Havering to implement primary languages. I have a range of teaching experiences in primary (KS2), secondary (KS3 – KS5) and the adult Education sectors, including Tower Hamlet’s Idea Stores. I hold a Bachelors in Education from University of Basque Country and I hold UK Qualified Teacher Status.

Thea Davies

After many fantastic years working as a research scientist and following the birth of my first child, I trained to become a biology lecturer. I have taught science and maths since 2006 in primary and secondary schools, further education colleges and university. I currently also work part-time, as a University Teacher, at Cardiff University. For eight years I worked at the University of South Wales (formerly University of Wales, Newport), where I taught on the Initial Teacher Training, Secondary Science programme this enhanced my understanding of good teaching strategies in secondary science education. I have a lot of experience of working with children and adults with additional learning support needs and have spent many years working with learners who may need support accessing education as a result of physical disabilities.

I live with my family in the Wye Valley, on the English-Welsh border. I enjoy spending time in the countryside with my kids and dogs.

Marianne Kavanagh

Bonjour! I am a qualified and experienced teacher of French having gained my degree in 1999 and PGCE in 2003 and worked eight years in both primary and secondary schools in the UK. I also trained as an EFL teacher and taught English to both adults and children home and abroad. I gained a Master’s in translation in 2012 and worked as a freelancer on the translation of academic, commercial and legal texts. I am also a storyteller from the oral tradition and tell stories at UK events and workshops. Furthermore, I am trained as a ‘Translation Skills’ workshop facilitator as part of a course run by The Stephen Spender Trust which involves going into schools to teach translation skills to primary and secondary aged children.

My focus is very much on keeping language learning fun and fluid allowing children to explore and express their ideas and creativity with language.

Ash Guzowski

I have taught English and Media Studies, for ages 11 to 18, for five years, and am passionate about helping young people to understand and critically engage with the world around them, through analysis. My teaching experience began in rural Cornwall, working with students who often had limited experiences of the world outside the county, and I worked to help them gain valuable understanding of wider society. From here, my work has taken me to Buckinghamshire and on to Wales. My teaching philosophy is that we remember best when we have positive memories associated with the learning, so I always work to make lessons interesting and incorporate topics and subjects that students find engaging, and adapting my teaching style to suit the students’ needs. I also believe it is really important to emphasis and build on students’ successes, using verbal praise and rewards to help them understand their strengths.

Sam Palmer

I am a Geography and English as a Second Language teacher, with Geography as a primary passion. The Geography journey began in 2006 when I was introduced to speleology, becoming a cave mine leader instructing groups around local cave systems.

After completing the BSc degree in Geography at Bath Spa University I chose to move to Spain and train as a teacher the Professional Graduate in Education was achieved in 2090

After working extensively in the field of English as a Second Language with the Spanish Military and companies such as Santander and Siemens, a move was made to Dexway, where with the help of a global team of tutors both ‘flesh and bone’ and the human touch was created for the Dexway brand of Computer Based Learning. Whilst in this role of coaching and tutoring, assisting thousands of students to reach their goal, unique content for forums and the Dexway Magazine was written.

In 2014 I completed English teaching certificate and a submission was made of the BSc Dissertation to the speleology journal Cave and Karst Science