Teachers change lives and can make a big difference to young people and the subjects they go on to study. At Reach academy in Feltham, west London, pupils who once found maths and science too hard now say they are fun – and many plan to study the subjects in the sixth form. Modern foreign languages are also thriving at the school, which is in a multicultural suburb in the shadow of Heathrow, where many pupils speak a language other than English in their homes. But students say the teachers have helped them change the way they feel about themselves, their ability and possible careers. How do they do it? We asked a group of year 10 pupils, and also met their maths teacher.
Tyler Saunders, maths teacher
I went to Lampton school, nearby in Hounslow. I was the first in my family to go to university and studied physics at Southampton. I came out with a first-class degree and I wasn’t sure what to do next. Then I heard about Reach academy and I got a training contract here. I love teaching. It’s never boring. I always want to see progress in myself and teaching is definitely a career where you can see a lot of personal progress.
Shanie, 14
At primary school I really didn’t like maths. Now I do, because my teacher made sure I understood it. Miss Saunders was the one who changed my mind about maths last year. I remember the first lesson when she said she was really excited to teach us. She’s very enthusiastic and uses imaginary scenarios and games to make it interesting. After she helped me, I felt more confident. She doesn’t teach me this year but I still talk to her and she gives very good advice.
Aisha, 15
I love languages and my Spanish teacher Miss Peleckaite really pushes us and gives us extra work, so we can get to a higher level. I speak Italian and Urdu as well. Miss Peleckaite makes lessons interesting and if you don’t understand, you can always go and speak to her at break or after school. She really wants us to do well. I want to be a doctor because I like travelling and helping people who are in need. I would like to work in places where people have been affected by things such as natural disasters, as there are often fewer people working in those areas. I really want to help those who are in desperate situations.
Oliver, 14
I used to dislike biology – I thought it was a bunch of stuff I didn’t really need, but now I’ve started to like it and I might carry on with science. Mr Jackson, our teacher, is passionate and enthusiastic and makes it exciting. I’ve been researching how plants get everything they need to respire, and it’s very interesting. He’s extremely knowledgable and if you ask him anything he has an immediate answer and goes into great detail.
Josh, 15
I first got to like French in primary school and now I’m taking French and Spanish GCSEs. My teacher is Miss Pinkham and I really like the way she teaches. She’s very lively and in her lessons there is no time to get bored. She makes you want to know more about what is happening in the world. Even if you don’t watch the news that much you get a view of it from Miss Pinkham and it really sticks in your mind. Education is the first step to becoming something in life.
Muna, 15
At my last school I never really liked science, but now I think I might even go into it because I’m really enjoying it. Physics is my favourite because of Mr Gunter, the teacher, but I like biology and chemistry as well. Mr Gunter can be quite strict – he makes sure every single person understands something before he moves on. He really loves physics. He makes lessons interesting and about the things that are happening in the real world, such as radioactivity and the way ionising can lead to changes in DNA. I think he’s done a good job because he really changed my mind about science. I think a lot of people in the class would agree that he teaches it in a way that makes us look forward to his lessons.
Krishnan, 14
I found science incredibly difficult at primary school – then, when I came here, Miss Couves was my science teacher and I noticed the difference straight away. Even on a Monday morning she comes in so happy and energetic that it rubs off on us and makes us ready to learn. She makes a personal connection with us and makes you feel that your learning is very important to her. Miss Couves is always pushing me to learn and giving me harder work. It’s fascinating stuff, so I don’t stop learning at the end of the lesson, I continue at home – and if I get stuck with anything I can ring her or email. I really love biology and learning about the human body and how it works. I don’t want to be a doctor, though, because I am not very good with blood!
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