Teach-Primary-Issue-20.1

Q A & 1 What is your idea of perfect happiness in your job? Pride! I love it when children demonstrate real joy in something they have achieved. Those golden moments when they come to showme a piece of learning that they are proud of, when they punch the air upon receipt of a certificate in assembly, or when they take that extra time and care to produce something special. As deputy head, I find real happiness in how proud our team are of their professional achievements, too, and the pride they show for our children and our special little school community. 2 What is your greatest fear at work? Failure. I’m a self-confessed perfectionist and control freak, and unfortunately that means I perceive personal failure whenever something I have set my mind to doesn’t go to plan. From the small things like a display not turning out as intended, to the failure I feel when I have let a pupil down through not supporting them effectively with their learning or wellbeing. Whilst I know failure leads to lessons learned (I’ve certainly told the children that enough times over the years!), I can’t help that personal sense of disappointment when I haven’t managed to achieve what I set out to. 3 What is your current state of mind? FRAZZLED! It’s coming to the end of a long and busy autumn term as I write this, and I amwearing many hats at the moment. Luckily, I love what I do and I can rock a hat! But I must admit that those long lie-ins and mince pies are now calling my name. situations, cheer children up or motivate them to learn. 7 What do you consider your greatest teaching achievement? I find this incredibly difficult to put my finger on, I must be honest. I think the joy of teaching is in the little wins that happen every day. From that moment you get a smile on the grumpiest little face to the cracking Estyn report you know your school and staff deserve. I think achievement in teaching comes not from your personal successes but those that are achieved by your pupils, colleagues and school as a whole. 8 What is your most treasured teaching possession? Big teacher scissors! Where do they all go? Have you ever tried cutting thick cardboard or felt with those little pupil scissors? But, beyond the everyday objects, my most treasured possession has to be positivity. Whether you’re feeling positive or not on in the inside, I’m a big believer of the ‘fake it till you make it’ mentality. It helps breed a positive atmosphere where everyone has a sense of togetherness and a ‘can do’ attitude. What do you consider the most overrated teacher virtue? Patience... I’ve been told many times over the years by friends and family that I must have the patience of a saint to do what I do. It’s all an act; I should be nominated for an Oscar not a Sainthood! A busy school where no two days are the same certainly does require patience and resilience, but it is not a quality I can maintain all of the time. That burnout feeling can certainly hit on the journey home when you’ve been playing a part all day. But, of course, the next morning you paint on that smile and go again! 5 On what occasion do you lie to your class? ALL. THE. TIME. Let’s be honest, howmany times have teachers said to the children, “Let’s check the CCTV” to get to the bottom of a conflict? I also love the magical little lies you can tell younger children to hook their imagination – that ‘mystery giant egg’ that has appeared in class overnight, or the unexplained footsteps leading to the book corner. Whilst I preach the importance of honesty to the children, there are certainly many occasions when a little lie can spark some curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. 6 Which words or phrases do you most overuse with your class? This is a tough one. I have a few stock phrases that I like to use to remind the children I’m human and to keep the mood light and spirits high. I can often be heard saying “Let’s rock ‘n’ roll” when we are about to crack on with something and need to focus. I think humour can be the best tool in a teacher’s toolkit to diffuse We take the famous Proust questionnaire and pose eight of its questions to a fellow educator. Take a peek into the deepest depths of a teacher’s soul... 82 | www.teachwire.net F EATURE S BACK PAGE NAME: Nansi Lambert JOB ROLE: Deputy headteacher, Sofrydd Primary School EXTRA INFO: In 2025, Estyn said: “Sofrydd is a welcoming, inclusive school that values pupils and staff and ensures that they can thrive”.