Glen Gilchrist's Page

School / Work Affiliation

Subject Team Leader

Blog

http://glengilchrist.co.uk

Website

http://glengilchrist.co.uk

Twitter / Plurk / Other Account

@mrgpg

About Me

My potted history: ”When I did my degree (1999), I did a concurrent PGCE – I wanted to be a teacher so badly – (probably something to do with my Physics teacher – Wendy Kidd, hello) – but I was sponsored by AvON Rubber, so took the easy option after graduation and went to work for them as a research scientist.
After a couple of years, the allure of all things technical got me and I left to work with a company making 30 pin simms (when 1Mb of memory was quite sufficient). I did the technical training and learned how to Spin Sell - something that as a teacher I still come back to.

Having some money behind me, I left to set up my own business selling flash memory for the emerging digital camera market. I did the web stuff and took care of the technical side of things. But I had a secret.
I wanted to teach in a classroom.
I returned to teaching in 2004, and am currently Head of Science at Newport High School – a position and school that I thoroughly love. The position, as it allows me to directly influence the educational direction of a whole institution, plus enjoying the learners in the classroom AND the school / senior leadership for providing an inspirational and supportive place to work.
Personally, I want to cut through all the layers of junk that we are obliged to teach these days and to find a way of connecting with our young people that actually makes a long term difference to their lives.
Sounds like a mission statement or a manifesto promise doesn't it?