Concord students and staff will be very sad to say goodbye to Miss Featherstone at the end of term, so to mark her 6 years here as a chemistry teacher and lead boarding parent at Highfields we met up to chat about her favourite Concord memories.

Q) What brought you to Concord College?

“After working in Chemistry research jobs, I decided I wanted to become a teacher.  I did some work experience at Concord when I was doing my PGCE teaching qualification and fell in love with the place then. When the chemistry teaching job here was advertised, I jumped at the chance to apply – and this became my first teaching post. When I started that September, I was doing a new job in a new place but there was one familiar face when I got here; Dr Beard was my chemistry teacher when I was at school!”

Q) What do you like the most about being a teacher?

“I love building a relationship with students. In fact, for me, the job as a teacher, house parent, running chess clubs, science competitions or going on outdoor education trips all merges into one. I like to find out what makes students ‘tick’ and what they need. I’m very aware that Concord students are far from home, and I want to do my best to help.”

Q) What will you remember about Concord students?

“Concord students are very bright, but they also have warmth and humility. Although my new school has many international students there are not so many and I will also miss the diversity we have here. I’ve learned a lot about other countries and their customs too. For example, before coming to Concord I didn’t know about the red envelopes people in China exchange at Lunar New Year. It will be nice to have the opportunity to travel to all these countries one day, maybe I can even meet up with Concord alumni too.

Q) Can you share any of your favourite Concord memories with us?

There are almost too many to remember. For example, I was with a lovely group of Thai girls on an outward-bound weekend and they wanted to jump into the Menai Straits (the stretch of sea between the island of Anglesey and North Wales) expecting to make a big splash, but the water turned out to be only waist height which really made us laugh. I love House Arts and it’s been great to get involved. I remember once dressing as a mirror and dancing on stage to the song ‘Man in the Mirror’.

Q) What are your hopes for your new job?

I’m looking forward to building up my new school’s science department and sharing what’s special about working in science with its students. At Concord, alumni are a great help in passing on their experience of university and careers to young Concordians and I hope I will build up a similar relationship with Rossall’s alumni.

Q) Any last messages for your students and alumni from Concord?

Please keep in touch with me over the Concord Alumni Network. I’m not on social media so please do use the Network to let me know how you’re getting on!

A spectacular chemistry lesson!

Valentine’s Day fundraising

Concord’s Colour Run

Canoeing Trip