I started at Ridgewood in September 2015 as Head of IT, then became Head of Faculty for IT and Business in January 2016. In June I was made an Associate Assistant Head and I am now responsible for a range of areas of school including student leadership, the prefects and the ‘student voice’ council. What I really love about working at Ridgewood is our students. I have worked in other schools in both Doncaster and other local authorities, but no other students compare to those we have at Ridgewood.

In September 2015 I started at Ridgewood as a teacher of IT and Business Studies, and I was also responsible for leading on our extensive Duke of Edinburgh programme; there are now over 160 students involved in D of E including 50 working towards their Gold Award. I was promoted to Head of Business in summer 2016 and have been enjoying my first year in this role. Ridgewood is a great school to work in if you are driven and determined. Although my role is busy and fast-paced, I have benefitted from lots of support and training which has enabled me to lead with confidence.

I have been at Ridgewood for a year and a half, teaching both Spanish and French. I came here after my NQT year and am now Head of Modern Foreign Languages. My passion is teaching and learning and I love the fact that the students here enable me to deliver innovative and exciting lessons, as they are always motivated and well behaved. I have also really enjoyed all the training that I have taken part in, from individual coaching to develop my leadership, to all the T&L workshops I have attended.

I am currently in my fourth year at Ridgewood and am now Co-Head of Science. Being Co-Head is brilliant as I have a colleague with whom to share the role, so we can support each other and develop our skills together. I enjoy the challenges of leadership and like the responsibility that the role comes with; I feel I can make a real difference to lots of students and develop all the staff in my team, which is a really rewarding part of what I do.

My training to be a teacher took place at Ridgewood and I was thrilled to start here as a full time teacher last year. What do I love about Ridgewood? I would say the support from staff. Whether that is a midday supervisor as I walk through the yard or a member of Senior Team – everyone is there to help. As an NQT, I get lots of support, coaching and guidance from both my mentor and my department and I feel like I'm learning and improving all the time.