Personal statement

Biographical summary I have been teaching within secondary education for 18 years working in Fife, where I am originally from. My subject specialism is Music and Music Technology and I am passionate about giving all pupils the opportunity to experience the diverse areas within this subject so that they can not only develop their identity and creativity but also to develop the skills for lifelong learning and work that Music (‘The Arts’) is so fundamental in fostering within our curriculum. As an experienced Teacher and Principal Teacher I have had opportunities to work, lead and provide CPD opportunities across schools within my local authority (Fife), developing areas related to Interdisciplinary Learning, discussing and planning with colleagues across my authority to create a shared understanding related to the national music benchmarks within CfE. I have worked with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) for a number of years as an External Examiner for National 5 and Higher Performing. Working within Strathclyde University as a Teaching Fellow my work covered teaching on the PGDE Primary and PGDE Secondary and BA programmes/modules. Teaching interests Creative Teaching Approaches (Lessons and schemes of work to support primary class teachers, especially those who lack confidence/expertise in this field National Benchmarks – What do these mean? How can you create, plan and deliver a framework for learning? A Creative Approach to Interdisciplinary Learning – What does it look like in practice? How do you plan, deliver and assess effectively? Making Thinking Visible (MTV) – Creative Approaches Developing Higher Thinking skills Positive Relationships better behaviour Research interests The effects Music has on the social and emotional well-being of a child’s development Music Provision in Primary Schools across Scotland Partnership Engagement in supporting and facilitating CPD events Promoting/developing STEAM model