Ciaran Bollard

Background

About Ciaran Bollard

My first step to becoming a teacher after leaving school was completing a three-year BA degree in my native Ireland at National University of Ireland Galway. I received an overall grade of 2.1 studying geography and history. I then travelled to the UK where I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at Canterbury Christchurch University receiving an overall grade of Good. In August 2017, I fulfilled a long-term ambition of mine to travel to Australia where I worked as a relief teacher. This gave me the opportunity to work in a multitude of schools with students ranging from kindergarten all the way up to students preparing to enter university. Then in 2020, I fulfilled another long-term ambition of mine when I moved to Korea to teach in English as a foreign language. This helped me gain exposure to working with younger students and unearthed a passion for working with students of this age range. After two years of teaching English as a foreign language, I was provided with a fantastic opportunity to teach a Year 1 class at a British International school in Seoul. This is a role I have cherished and have thoroughly enjoyed the new opportunities and challenges it has provided me with. I am satisfied with the progress that the overwhelming majority of students have made under my guidance. For example, I was assigned the task of tutoring struggling Year 11 students in preparation for their GCSE exams. My support assisted in all of these students obtaining at least their predicted grade when they eventually sat their exams. On the other end of the spectrum, my recent career path has allowed me to assist younger students to flourish both on an academic and, perhaps more importantly, on a social and emotional level. I take great pride in my ability to maintain a healthy and respectable relationship with students regardless of their academic ability or their personality. I believe the experience gained working as a substitute teacher has truly allowed me to strengthen these skills further whereby I have encountered a vast number of pupils; all of whom possess their own unique and individual personalities. The pastoral element of teaching is something which I relish and my time spent as a Year 8 and Year 7 form tutor was one of the most enjoyable elements of working in the school environment. In my current role as a Year 1 teacher, I have been able to form very strong and respectful connections with my students and I take great satisfaction when I am informed by the students’ parents that their child enjoys coming to school each day.