The Chronicle January 2020

10 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Sophie Barnes What do you do at Teddies and how long have you been here? I joined the Maths Department in September 2018 and this year I moved into Corfe as the Resident Tutor.  Who or what inspired you into teaching? I decided to become a Maths teacher when I was 11 years old. At school, I was always the girl who was good at Maths. I loved being able to explain things to friends and hear them say ‘Oh, I get it now!’, which gave me the idea that I would like to teach. Since then I have obviously considered other careers, but I love working with teenagers and my mind kept coming back to teaching.  Name some highlights of your Teddies career so far. Fantastic supportive colleagues; thought-provoking conversations with pupils at EDGE, our weekly Christian meeting; watching the Gaudy Dance Show; summer rowing regattas; and coaching 4th XI girls who have never held a hockey stick before.  What do you do at Teddies beyond your teaching role? As Corfe RT, I love spending time with the girls in House, chatting and helping them out with the big and small things alike. I coach rowing as well as hockey, and I help to run EDGE.  What do you value about the academic ethos at Teddies? It is great to be teaching pupils to think for themselves and build resilience. This often takes time, but those who master it reap the rewards. What would you say to someone who says ‘I’m hopeless at Maths’? I hear this all the time, but my response is that everyone can get somewhere, you just have to be willing to start. I challenge my pupils to work to their own best ability, not compare themselves with friends or sit back in despair. Best thing about working at a school in Oxford? I have lots of friends around here, so being able to see them.  Naughtiest thing you did at school? I only ever had two detentions whilst I was at school: one for having a paint fight across an Art classroom, and the other for cutting someone’s hair during a supervised prep session. Which book would you take to a desert island? Easiest question of the lot: it would have to be my Bible. Best advice you’ve ever been given?  Be positive and try to get on with everyone. Don’t hold grudges and let things go when necessary.