Latest News
Teacher Profile - Mrs McGivern
Name: Mrs McGivern
Role: Associate Assistant Headteacher
Subject: Chemistry
Favourite Book: From my child hood - A Dog so Small by Phillipa Pearce. More recently, anything involving crime scenes, lawyers and police investigations!
Favourite Film: Two very different ones – ‘One Day’ directed by Lone Scherfig, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess and ‘The Life of Brian’ from Monty Python.
Hobbies: Swimming, reading, gardening – I am looking to carry out an oxidation reaction at home next year; turning my grapes into grape juice, then home-made vinegar.
Favourite Food: Roast Potatoes
Favourite Holiday Destination: Italy
If you had not become a teacher what job would you like to do? The University of Reading has many close links with companies relating to Chemistry, Pharmacy and Food Sciences, among others. I took part in several trials during my studies, and if I had not gone into teaching I would have looked a career in food science https://www.reading.ac.uk/food/, This would mean I would be working with global companies to investigate issues such as why biscuits go soft, but cake goes hard, and how we know what a food's 'best before end' date is.
What is the most challenging thing you have achieved? When I passed my PGCE and started teaching as a NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) my first school was under very challenging circumstances – assessed as failing and put under ‘Special Measures’ by Ofsted.
Motivating students who had not had specialist science teachers for several years, and those who had given up on themselves and their education was very challenging, and emotional at times!
Over three years we worked hard as a school, and came out of ‘Special Measures’. We were assessed as ‘Good’ by Ofsted, and the whole ethos of the school had changed. In science the amount of students achieving at least a pass mark at GCSE increased from just 13% to 65% in 5 years, and they are still improving yearly now.
Why did you become a teacher? During my first year at university I signed up to lead tours and demonstrate practical work for the Chemistry department during Open Days in order to earn some money – this paid much better than working in the cafes and shops in town and took less time away from my studies.
I found I really enjoyed working with students, explaining concepts and helping others to understand practical work. By my second year I was tutoring first year students for the ‘Maths for Chemists’ compulsory first year module, and in the summer I undertook a three week placement at a secondary school, working with A Level students and their teachers.
I loved my time at this school, working with the students but also the staff team. These teachers became my colleagues when I finished university, and in total I spent 8 years working at the school, including seeing my Year 7 tutor group all the way through to Year 13.
