Rachel Hearnshaw

Head of Sport and PE, Dunhurst

BA (Hons) QTS Brighton, Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Psychology

 What makes a good teacher at Dunhurst?
A Dunhurst teacher needs to be flexible; to bear in mind that we are here to educate the whole child; and that the school is there for the children, not the other way round.

What are you trying to encourage and instil in your pupils?
I am trying to encourage all pupils to have high expectations of themselves. To instil a sense of commitment and self discipline, a feeling of belonging and team work whilst still maintaining their individual personalities.

Apart from your teaching role, what else do you get involved with at the school?
I am a Block One (Year 7) tutor which involves supporting, listening to and helping 7 pupils throughout the year. I also organise the Block One outdoor activity camp to Okehampton on the edge of Dartmoor.

Most of my extracurricular time is spent coaching teams and taking matches, which is my passion. To see the results of the teams’ training and hard work coming together during a match is very rewarding. I feel honoured to have the chance to facilitate the children’s experiences of team work, success and achievement.

In your opinion, what makes Dunhurst special?
The fact that there are no unnecessary rules and regulations. Everyone is allowed to be whoever they want to be, which means that there is an innate feeling of freedom. Whatever the children do, they do because they want to. So when large numbers turn up for team training week in, week out, I know that they want to play sport and they want to be part of a team.

What is your best memory of Dunhurst?
Sports Day 2009 - when every Dunhurst child competed to the best of their ability in athletics and cheered each other on. The overall skill level was high and a large number of school records were broken. The best part was seeing big smiles on all their faces. They were enjoying sport and enjoying the fact that they could do their event well, having worked hard all term.

Who or what inspires you?
People who say ‘yes I can’ and anyone who follows their dreams despite possible obstacles. Whether it’s those who leave their comfortable jobs to work with those less fortunate or those who stand up for what they believe is right.

Tell us something not a lot of people know about you.
My favourite pastime is walking in the mountains, preferably in Switzerland (where my Mum comes from).