Xander, Year 9, is part of the Northgate News Team and decided to interview Mrs Green, who has been at Northgate for about 16 years. He wanted to find out a bit more about her role as a form tutor as she is currently form tutor to 9AGR, which he is part of. Here’s what she had to say in response to his questions.
Describe Northgate in 3 words.
Inclusive, Developing, Transitional
What is the best thing about teaching at Northgate?
The community of staff and support we offer one another and then can give to our pupils.
What is your favourite sport to teach and why?
Netball, as it is a sport where every player has a role and the whole team must work together to score a point. It cannot be solely down to a single player.
If you were not a teacher, what would be your dream job?
When I applied for university I also applied for an occupational therapist course as well as Sports Science. I would pick to be an interior designer if I were to pick today though.
What does the role of a tutor involve? Why is this role important?
Look after students’ wellbeing—checking in on how they’re doing emotionally, socially, and academically, and spotting any concerns early. You take the register (attendance) each day, give announcements, and help keep students organised for the school day. Also, to be someone my form can talk to with concerns.
What is the best part of being a tutor at Northgate?
Seeing the development of pupils in my Form over their time at Northgate, In my 16 years here I have had 4 form groups and seeing their development over those 4-5 years is lovely to be a part of.
What is the most challenging part of being a tutor?
When the classroom your form is using is not your actual teaching space it can take time to set-up ready to then deliver all that is needed in the short amount of time.
What do you think makes a good form tutor?
Listening and being approachable.
This or that?
PE theory or PE practical? PE theory
Athletics or gymnastics? Athletics
Olympics or World Cup? Olympics
After school match or after school club? After school club
Sweet or savoury? Savoury
Football or rugby? Football
Summer or Spring? Spring
PE in the rain or PE in the heat? PE in the heat
TV series or movie? TV series
Vacation or staycation? Vacation
Thank you to Mrs Green for taking the time to answer Xander’s questions. We look forward to finding out about our next member of staff, interviewed by the Northgate News Team.
We are pleased to introduce our May bulletin. Our bulletin this month is celebrating the fantastic achievements of our students.
We hope that you are able to take some time to have a look at all the goings on at Northgate from the last month and enjoy seeing what we’ve been up to. Please share with your friends and family via our Facebook and twitter pages.
Miss Theobald (School Council Coordinator) + Northgate School Council.
Jacob, Year 7, is part of the Northgate News Team. He decided to interview Mrs Buckley who part of our Design Technology department and teaches Food Technology. Here’s what she had to say in response to Jacob’s questions.
What inspired you to become a Food Technology teacher? When I worked as an LSA, I helped a lot with food and nutrition and I loved it! So, I became a Food Technology teacher.
What skills do you think are most important for students to learn in Food Tech? Food hygiene and skills to cook simple meals. Also, learning about a healthy, balanced diet.
What advice would you give to a student who’s interested in working with food in the future? Work well with other colleagues and support and respect them.
What’s your favourite thing to cook at home? I like cooking lasagne because other people like eating it!
Did you always enjoy cooking when you were younger? Always. My mum was a food and nutrition teacher and cooked a lot at home
If you weren’t a teacher, what job do you think you’d be doing instead? I would like to own a farm.
Describe Northgate in 3 words: Friendly, inclusive and noisy
Do you have any hobbies outside of school, apart from cooking? I do. I have a horse and go horse riding – my horse’s name is Nando.
A big thank you to Mrs Buckley for taking the time to answer Jacob’s questions. It is always interesting to find out a bit more about our teachers here at Northgate. We look forward to finding out who is next.
Saskia, Year 7, is part of the Northgate News Team. She decided to interview Miss Martinez who is currently acting Head of Drama and Dance. Here’s what she had to say in response to Saskia’s questions.
What is the best thing about teaching at Northgate?
I love the students’ energy and it’s very rewarding.
What do you like about being head of the department?
It’s a new challenge and I enjoy bettering myself as a teacher.
What’s a fun or surprising fact about you?
I am a fully qualified scuba diver which I started at age 12.
What do you enjoy most about teaching drama?
I love seeing the students’ confidence grow and watching them fall in love with the subject. Every day is different with a new challenge and a new opportunity to be creative.
What do you find most challenging about teaching drama?
When students say they are not good at it and helping them see that actually they can do it and they become great at it.
What makes a good drama lesson in your opinion? A lesson that is fun, engaging, joyful and most of all creative.
What skills do you think students learn in drama that help them in other subjects? Communication, group work, problem solving, creative and critical thinking just to name a few.
Do you have a favourite play, musical, or performance?
It is definitely too hard to pick just one so I think I’ll have to choose multiple; Funny Girl, West Side Story, Hamilton, Wicked, and The Sound of Music.
What’s a memorable moment you’ve had in a lesson or performance? Watching everybody perform the Wizard of Oz as it was my first solo show and I am very proud of what we achieved.
If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you like to have?
A makeup artist.
If you could be in any play or film, which would it be and why?
Hedda Gabler because she is one of the most interesting female characters of all time.
How can drama help students in everyday life?
It can help with confidence for everyone.
Quick Fire Questions:
Chocolate or sweets – Chocolate
Fruit or vegetables – Vegetables
Cat or dog – Dog
Summer or winter – Summer
Birthday or Christmas – Birthday
Vacation or Stay-cation – Vacation
A big thank you to Miss Martinez for taking the time to answer Saskia’s questions. It is always interesting to find out a bit more about our teachers here at Northgate. We look forward to finding out who is next.
Jasmine, Year 7, is part of the Northgate News Team. She decided to interview Miss Orford who is part of the RE and Citizenship Department and started working at Northgate in September. Here’s what she had to say in response to Jasmine’s questions.
What are your hobbies outside of school?
I enjoy travelling to different countries and cities and spending time with my horse.
Describe Northgate in 3 words:
Friendly, Interesting, Supportive
If you were not a teacher, what job would you like to have and why?
A solicitor – I really enjoyed the laws modules that I studied at university.
What inspired you to become an RE and Citizenship teacher? My A-Level Philosophy teacher,
What do you enjoy most about teaching your subjects? The debates and discussions. It allows students and me to be part of it.
Is there a particular topic or theme you enjoy teaching the most each year?
– Does the existence of evil prove God does not exist?
– Medical ethics
What is the most rewarding part of your job? When something clicks for a student and that previously they didn’t understand
What’s a book, film, or quote that has really inspired you? The little book of sloth Philosophy
If you could take your students on a field trip anywhere in the world, where would you go? Rome: Vatican City, Basilica and the Colosseum
Quick fire questions:
Ethics or philosophy? Ethics
Discussion or essay? Discussion
Debate or presentation? Debate
Book or film? Film
Classroom or field trip? Field trip
Group work or independent work? Group work
Sweet or savoury? Savoury
Spring or Summer? Summer
Vacation or staycation? Vacation
A big thank you to Miss Orford for taking the time to answer Jasmine’s questions. It is always interesting to find out a bit more about our teachers here at Northgate. We look forward to finding out who is next.
We are pleased to introduce our April bulletin. It’s certainly a bumper edition this month with so much having gone on in March. In our bulletin this month we are celebrating lots of successes of our students. There’s updates from Science Week, World Book Week, sporting updates and lots more.
We hope that you are able to take some time to have a look at all the goings on at Northgate from the last month and enjoy seeing what we’ve been up to. Please share with your friends and family via our Facebook and twitter pages.
Miss Theobald (School Council Coordinator) + Northgate School Council.
Xander, Year 9, is part of the Northgate News Team and decided to interview Mrs Green, who has been at Northgate for about 16 years. He wanted to find out a bit more about her role as a form tutor as she is currently form tutor to 9AGR, which he is part of. Here’s what she had to say in response to his questions.
Jacob, Year 7, is part of the Northgate News Team. He decided to interview Mrs Buckley who part of our Design Technology department and teaches Food Technology. Here’s what she had to say in response to Jacob’s questions.
Saskia, Year 7, is part of the Northgate News Team. She decided to interview Miss Martinez who is currently acting Head of Drama and Dance. Here’s what she had to say in response to Saskia’s questions.
Jasmine, Year 7, is part of the Northgate News Team. She decided to interview Miss Orford who is part of the RE and Citizenship Department and started working at Northgate in September. Here’s what she had to say in response to Jasmine’s questions.