Meet our experts: Sarah Butler
On work-life:
I started my teaching career at Newvic 17 years ago, and after a couple of years I moved on to undertake a variety of management roles in schools. However after a few years I returned to Newvic and have been back for 11 years now. This college and its wonderful staff team has been the grounding for my love of teaching.
Newvic is an engaging and vibrant place to work, and has an incredibly supportive and energetic team of teachers at its helm. Teaching A Level Sociology and A Level Business there isn’t a day passes where our students don’t make me think, laugh, ask fascinating questions and inspire each other and me! I live in Newham myself and I’m a Governor at a Newham Primary School, I live and breathe the Newham community and I’ve been amazed to see the changes we’ve experienced in recent years.
On most inspiring person you have met:
Whilst volunteering at a fantastic London LGBT theatre a few years ago, I was lucky enough to meet the brilliant Sandi Togsvig. Her quick wit and intellectual humour has always inspired me, and provided ideas and ways in which to inspire students to engage in current affairs and debates from a lighthearted perspective, which often leads to much deeper thinking. I’m grateful to Sandi for injecting humour into what can be very draining and disheartening politics surrounding the UK, and her hilarious yet poignant contributions to Radio 4 have enabled me to keep up to date with the world of Business and Sociology without losing my mind!
On your teaching career:
I have always enjoyed the nuts and bolts of education and being up to date with educational research and digital learning. A few years ago I completed a Masters Degree in the Sociology of Education which completely changed my outlook on life, on equality in education and on life in Newham. I have mentored many trainee teachers over the years and I particularly enjoy guiding Newham teachers to find their own style and ways of connecting with our students.
I also present at A Level revision conferences around the UK for a private education company, each year in the Spring, so I get to meet a wide range of students from Portsmouth to Manchester, Stratford to Newcastle! This really adds to my ability to teach successfully and highlights the unique personalities of our students at Newvic.
On student progression:
It’s a privilege to teach young adults who are at such an exciting and pivotal point in their lives. Deciding whether to attend university, which career to pursue and discovering which of their chosen subjects will be their passion and focus is exhilarating year on year. It’s very rewarding to stay in touch with students and hear of their successes, travels and achievements.
