Amanda Gillingham

Background

About Amanda Gillingham

I am a primary school teacher who is committed to nurturing creativity and fostering a love for learning. With a first-class degree in Education from Middlesex University, I have a solid foundation in educational theory and practice. During my time at university, I delved deep into the subject of creativity in the curriculum, exploring strategies to inspire innovative thinking among students.I began my teaching career at a state school in Luton, England, where I gained invaluable experience and received outstanding feedback during my School-Centred Initial Teacher training and PGCE. As an advocate for holistic education, I took on the role of PSHE Lead at Bramingham Primary School, where I had the opportunity to make a lasting impact.In this role, I led the introduction of a new curriculum for Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE) that aligned with UK requirements. To ensure successful implementation, I delivered whole school training sessions for the staff. In addition to this, I successfully implemented Values-Based Education (VbE) initiatives, which played a role in fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment throughout the school. By infusing the core values into the curriculum and school culture, I encouraged students to develop self-awareness, empathy and respect for others.Achieving these milestones was a collaborative effort, and I worked closely with the school community to ensure enthusiasm for the new initiatives. By delivering whole school training sessions, I was able to engage the entire staff in the vision and goals of the PSHE curriculum and Values-Based Education.Through my experiences in Luton, I gained invaluable insights into curriculum development, staff training, and creating a positive school culture. These experiences have shaped my teaching philosophy and instilled in me a deep commitment to fostering creativity and holistic education in every classroom I enter.Now, as a Year 3 teacher at Repton Al Barsha in Dubai, I bring this passion to my current role. I am dedicated to encouraging reading, holistic development, and implementing creative teaching methods that engage and inspire young minds. I firmly believe that by cultivating a love for reading and providing a dynamic and interactive learning environment, we can empower students to become confident, lifelong learners.