Mrs Owens' #teachereffect at St Mary's

We want to spend this year celebrating some of our teaching staff who help make St Mary’s School, Cambridge such an inspiring place for girls to learn and flourish. We call it the #teachereffect.

Sadly, we can’t cover all our teaching staff; however, we will be showcasing several over this year in many diverse areas and from across the school, from our Junior School to our Sixth Form. We continue our series with Mrs Kerry Owens, Deputy Head of our Junior School.

When did you start at St Mary’s?

I started at St Mary's way back at the time of St Catherine's School in 1999! My daughter had started in the first ever Pre prep class, with Jane Hunt as her teacher, and I was very lucky to join her in the school after a break from teaching to be at home with my children.

What did you do before you joined?

I have always been a teacher and in my 30 years’ experience I have taught in a wide variety of schools. I think the different experiences have prepared me well to manage all eventualities. My first class was a Year 3 class of 37 boys and girls which sometimes felt like crowd control! I was astonished when I joined St Mary's Junior School to find how much work the children got through because I wasn't spending any time setting classroom boundaries and maintaining the discipline.

Were you always interested in teaching? What fuelled that interest?

I was a very bossy child! I can remember helping to look after the Reception children when I was in Year 6 and I loved it. I never really considered any other career path. After a range of menial, clock watching student jobs I was determined to have a career that was challenging, varied and most of all never boring.

What have been your highlights of working at St Mary’s?

There have been so many highlights over the 20 years I have worked here, and so many changes too. One that sticks out is teaching the Reception class. This, at the time, was the only age group I hadn't taught and initially I was totally out of my comfort zone! Working in Early Years is a very different experience and is invaluable in teaching you how to support young children to develop their learning skills, from the very start. I have found this knowledge so helpful with other age groups.

Of course, another highlight was moving to our wonderful premises in Chaucer Road. It was exciting to help design and furnish the new building, particularly the Coach House. The ongoing developments continue to excite me!

Helping to introduce High Performance Learning (HPL) in the Junior School has been a recent highlight. This theory is the culmination of everything I have learnt in my 30 years of teaching.

Why do you enjoy teaching?

When I teach I forget everything else! It is such a creative job because you are always thinking of imaginative ways to interest and stimulate the children. Seeing them getting really involved and excited in their learning is incredibly rewarding. I am so pleased when the children continue their learning at home and bring in further research or books to share with the class. It shows me they've been inspired to find out more.

In your opinion what are the benefits of teaching in an all-girls environment?

Most definitely that there are no conceptual boundaries imposed on girls’ learning. Girls are encouraged to have opinions and to voice them which builds their self-esteem and confidence. I believe girls learning in an all-girls environment are enabled to experience all areas of learning freely, without any stereotypical confines. A girls' school education better prepares girls for life outside school.

What do you like to do in your free time when you are not teaching?

I love reading and belong to a book club, although we sometimes forget to discuss the book! I am interested in art and often visit galleries and exhibitions. I enjoy gardening but only the kind that involves designing and planting my many pots and a little light pruning. I leave the heavy stuff to someone else while I supervise from the hammock. I love interior design, much to my husband's dismay. It's a very expensive hobby! We love watching films as a family and we are currently reviewing all the Oscar nominations.

What advice do you have for all the students you have taught – past and present – to help them on their journey in life!

Never underestimate yourself. Be driven and work hard but be kind to yourself and others along the way. You will have tough times in life but be strong - those times will pass.