Kath Connolly, Learning Support Teacher, teaching pupil
Kath Connolly
Learning Support Teacher, Bedales Prep

BA (Hons), The Surrey Institute
PGCE, Brighton University

What makes a good teacher at Bedales Prep?

The constant desire to learn more. It is also useful to be able to modify your lesson at short notice to embrace any whole school focus and a sense of humour is essential! I love the flexibility in my subject so that I can teach animation for one lesson and the pupils can use it later to explain Maths or Science processes (cell division).

What are you trying to encourage and instil in your pupils?

A level of confidence that enables an ability to experiment and to solve problems using school IT systems.

Apart from your teaching role, what else do you get involved with at the school?

I am always on hand to help pupils in the library, staff (assemblies etc.) or guest speakers with any IT or AV related needs. I also help with extra curricular events such as plays, Badley Day, Hopit, Sports Day etc.

In your opinion, what makes Bedales Prep special?

There are many things but I especially love the way the pupils develop into young fund-raisers for charities.

What is your best memory of Bedales Prep?

The first Hopit Fair I went to comes to mind as I wasn’t expecting such an impressive array of colour, excitement and creativity all inspired by the concept of ‘helping other people in trouble’.

Who or what inspires you?

People who are always learning new skills, regardless of their age plus Vaughan Williams ‘the lark ascending’.

Tell us something not a lot of people know about you.

I once made a 3 minute animated film based on a recurring dream (using paint on glass) which was shown at a film festival in Brussels. I have never had that dream again!

Kath Connolly