What is your name? Laura O'Hare What is your role at Edge Grove? Deputy Head Academic
How long have you been at Edge Grove? Since September 2013 - I started as a Year 4 class teacher, whilst also doing a Masters in Education at Cambridge University, then moved to Head of Teaching and Learning, with a stint as Head of Lower School to cover Mrs Robison's maternity leave and then took on the DHA role in September 2018.
What did you do before joining Edge Grove? I taught at Sherborne Prep in Qatar.
What do you love most about your job? I feel incredibly privileged to be in a position where I get to work with pupils and teachers across all phases of the school, developing the curriculum and teaching practice, as well as the day to day academic running of the school. I teach Year 8 English and love to be part of the end of the pupil's journey, especially when I have seen the pupils mature so much over their time at the school, but equally love spending time with the Pre Prep pupils as they are just so enthusiastic about everything they do; visiting Forest School is definitely good for my mental health!
What do you love most about Edge Grove? Definitely the kids! It is an honour to watch them develop over their time at school and I often find myself reminiscing about pupils when they were younger when I am in their classroom. At the moment, it is Miss Henwood's Year 1 pupils who are now in Year 6 (I supported Miss Henwood through her teacher training so got to spend time with them each week). It is amazing to see how far they have come although I'm pretty sure I remember them more than they remember me, judging by the quizzical looks they give me when I start talking about their small world play story planning from five years ago! I do tend to get very sentimental about the Year 8s around May half term and have a folder called 'memory lane' on my computer where I have photos I'll share with them of their time at the school. I like to think they enjoy this as much as I do!
Who is your favourite colleague and why? This question has been on my mind since reading through all the questions. I honestly can't name an individual. As a team, there are people I'd turn to for support, those that will always make me laugh, some who are equally as geeky about pedagogy as me. I think it says a lot that there isn't a single member of staff in school that sitting down to a cup of tea with wouldn't bring a smile to my face... even the Bursar!
If you could live anywhere, where would it be? I've lived and taught on a tropical island off the coast of mainland Malaysia and in the deserts of Qatar but right now I'm happy living in England. Ideally, it would be in an old farmhouse tucked into rolling hills with a stream nearby and an open fire to keep me warm on days like today.
What is your biggest fear? That a new virus would emerge and shut down the global economy, plunging us into some dystopian action movie where the only way out is mass vaccination... I guess my old fear of snakes has been put into perspective over the last year! This year has also taught me not to let the unknown govern my actions and to pause to take a breath and then look for the way forward.
What did you want to be when you were little? Anything but a teacher! I used to answer careers tests deliberately to avoid it giving me teaching as a career option. Teaching sailing at an American summer camp for four summers and a stint of work experience at a nursery owned by a family friend quickly clarified that I should give teaching a go and now I can't imagine what it would be like to not be able to work with pupils on a daily basis. I'm lucky to be in a profession where being made to smile is a daily occurrence.
Current Year 8 pupils when they were in Year 4
Current Year 6 pupils when they were in Year 1