Teacher Profile: Martha Booth

Year(s) and Subject(s) Taught

Year 5 and year 6 - all subjects! :

How long have you been teaching?

Four years.

Why did you become a teacher? Why did you choose teaching as a profession?

I originally started by teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). I loved working with children and teaching, but I wanted more variety of lesson topics and more time to really make a difference. I left my job in Hong Kong to gain my teaching certificate back in the UK. 

Tell us about your own education journey.

I decided to go into teaching in 2015, four years after I first graduated. I wanted to get stuck in straight away and so I applied and was accepted onto the Teach First Programme. Teach First is a social enterprise registered as a charity which aims to address educational disadvantage in England and Wales through placing graduates into disadvantaged schools, alongside award winning training. It is a tough route into teaching, but one that is incredibly rewarding, especially as I am passionate about social change. 

What is the most memorable moment in your teaching career so far?

My most memorable moment was taking a group of year six students to London to attend the Royal Commonwealth Service. The Queen and Prince Harry were in attendance! It was such a wonderful day out and incredible celebration of the Commonwealth. 

What do you like most about teaching?

I love seeing students make progress - ‘light bulb moments’ make it all worth while! It is an amazing feeling when your hard work begins to pay off and you see a change to children’s work and their attitude. I am a big fan of instilling a growth mindset in my class. 

What is the best thing about teaching at your school? 

The best thing about my school is having the freedom to defer from textbooks, be it in writing, innovation, design or experiments. 

Who or what inspires you?

My colleagues inspire me! I love observing others and discussing lesson ideas with them. It is also great to share what went well - or not so well! Having great teachers around me inspire me to be better every day.  

What is the one thing you wish all students would do?

I would like all students to know that their best is always good enough. Everyone has different talents and skill sets, as long as you are trying your best then you should be proud of your achievements. “Comparison is the thief of joy”.