Meet the teacher

We chat to primary school teacher Chelsea Hodgson about phonics lessons – and rowdy football fans

In the second of our series about teachers’ lives, we catch up with 27-year-old primary school teacher Chelsea Hodgson from Blackburn to find out how she balances her day job with the demands of being an FA referee (and who’s better behaved: the pupils or the players).

Did you always want to be a teacher?

’Yes, always. I think it’s because I had a really positive experience at school. I teach reception class – the four-to-five year olds. My favourite lesson is phonics [the sounds letters make]. It amazes me how much progress the children make every single day – they’re little sponges!’

What was teaching for the first time like?

‘It’s quite overwhelming when you’ve dreamed about doing something for so long and you finally get there. I was so nervous that I didn’t even realise I had twins in the class – I just thought there was one really enthusiastic girl who kept wanting to show me her work.’

What do you love about your job?

‘It’s so much fun, I laugh every day, and get the chance to be really creative. As well as being a class teacher, I’m the Art, DT and PE lead, so it’s a really varied role. Teachers have to follow the national curriculum, of course, but you can plan your own lessons and bring your personality and interests to the role to put your own spin on things. No two teachers are ever the same.’

What made you want to be a football referee?

‘I played football until I was 21, and after that, I wanted to see another side of the game. I also thought it would go hand in hand with my teaching career (although grown-ups definitely answer back more than children). I now referee in the Women’s National League, as well as semi-professional men’s games.’

Is it hard to referee the men’s game?

‘If you have confidence and can communicate well, you can referee anyone, and, luckily, these are both skills I’ve developed in the classroom. The fans can get a bit gobby – they think they know it all – but I can teach them a thing or two!’

What do your pupils think about you being a referee?

‘They think I’m cool. I refereed an under-17s England v Spain match, and did an assembly on it. I wanted to show the children they can be anything they want.’

What do you wish people knew about teaching?

‘That it’s not just the pupils who learn; you’re learning every day too. You develop fantastic multitasking and leadership skills, which can open the door to so many opportunities.’ If you’re interested in learning more about a career in teaching and the training options available, search ‘Get Into Teaching’