Being teacher

A FOEMER healthcare assistant at Royal Bolton Hospital has fulfilled her dream of helping people by swapping her career ambitions and becoming a teacher.

Rachael McFadden, 26, who graduated recently with a First in Teaching, Learning and Child Development, had initially wanted to become a nurse.

She said: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I left college, I just knew I wanted to help people so I worked at the hospital in the hope of becoming a nurse.

“I enjoyed the job but I knew it was not the right career for me, I just knew it.

“I volunteered at a school and I knew for certain this was the right career for me and exactly what I wanted to do.”

After being advised at an open evening that Edge Hill was the best teaching university, Rachael put all her eggs in one basket and only applied there.

Rachael, from Salford, said: “I felt like leaving my job and app lying to university was such a big risk but now I look back and wonder why I didn’t do it sooner.

“The placements have helped develop my confidence and increase my motivation to become a teacher and, one day, have my own class.”

After an initial placement in a school in Parbold teaching Key Stage 2 (seven to nine-yearolds) Rachael’s last two placements were in a school in Chorley teaching Key Stage 1 (five to seven-year-olds).

She said: “I originally wanted to teach Key Stage 2 but once I stepped into a Key Stage 1 classroom I fell in love with it.

“I even volunteered at the school in Chorley after my placement ended because I loved it so much.

“In September I begin a one-year placement in Bolton then all being well I’ll be a fully qualified teacher.

“In the future I’d love to become a school counsellor as the psychology side of education and behaviour management really intrigued me on my course.”