Charlie
Position: Senior Learning Associate - KS1, Year 1/2
Why did you become a teacher?
I’ve been immersed in early childhood education my whole life, regularly assisting at my Mum’s playschool throughout my formative years. Throughout my own schooling experience as a child, I always thought of ideas in a creative or ‘outside of the box’ manner. However, at the time of my education, these were regularly dismissed or not valued, as the academic worth was measured as the ability to retain and regurgitate information. One teacher in particular made a huge impact on my academic journey and this has stuck with me. They actively listened, valued everyone’s contributions, and they adapted their teaching style to suit different needs. They made a huge difference to me, my confidence, and ultimately my experience of education.
It inspired me to do the same for children, to make learning fun, memorable, and much more than just your ability to retain knowledge in your short-term memory.
What excites you most about working at LWS?
I am most excited about the focus placed on creativity, collaboration, divergent thinking, original thought, and essential skills needed for our rapidly evolving 21st century. It is truly empowering to know that LWS is at the absolute forefront of educational change here in the UK (and beyond) and to see such a shared value across a multitude of educational ideas and pedagogical approaches.
What is your biggest dream for education/for children?
One of the most magical things about working alongside children is seeing the spark of original thought, idea, or question develop into a meaningful learning experience. I believe that as educators, it is our responsibility to genuinely listen to the passions of the children and to help foster their imagination and curiosity – who knows where it may lead! Our current educational system is in desperate need of change and I hope the style of education that LWS offers is available to all children in the not-too-distant future.