Before coming into Teaching, I spent five years as a Design Engineer working for GEC Switchgear, designing equipment for electrical sub stations which was exported all over the world. I decided to give it up to re-train as a Teacher. My first teaching position was at St Vincent De Paul in Victoria Park where I was quickly promoted to the Head of Department. St Bede’s College had never taught Technology before and in the summer term of 1989 they appointed me as the new Head of Technology. I helped to set up the department from scratch and I spent the summer term working with the College Architect and the builders to set the department up ready to start teaching Technology in September 1990.
I have really enjoyed my time as the Head of Technology at the College, the department now teaches Technology from Prep 5 right through to A-Level. We are one of the very few Schools in the UK that is currently teaching students as young as 9 to operate a Laser Cutting machine. The department prides itself on the excellent examination results and the national awards that the students have won. These awards include the AQA A-Level Technology award which was won by Rachel when she beat over 31,000 other students for the best examination result in the UK.