From the Teacher Support Network, www.teachersupport.info.

TEACHERS TELL THEIR STORY: KATHERINE

To celebrate National Storytelling Week (30 January to 6 February), we asked teachers in Scotland to tell us about the good, the bad and the downright ugly of teaching. If you feel inspired to tell us yours, do so in the form at the end of this tale, or by clicking here. Here is Katherine’s….

I come from a teaching background - both my parents were teachers - but I had never considered going into the profession myself. My Dad was a secondary head in a challenging school, and I had seen and experienced first hand his stresses and turmoils as a result of his job. Mum was a primary school teacher, but even she was beginning to feel the pressure from an increasing demand on her time and resources. They both took early retirement in 1985.

It came as a huge shock to me, when in January 2005 I found myself sitting beside my Dad's death bed. He was barely able to speak, but I knew he could still understand what I was saying: he had been ill only a fortnight. The last words I spoke to him, which I'm confident he heard, were, "Dad, I'm going to be a teacher". This came as a complete surprise to myself and my Mum, as I had never voiced such as intention before! Luckily my family were extremely supportive of me when I explained my sudden career plans. I chose the Graduate Teacher Programme because it meant that I could still stay in my home town as I trained, and therefore be more accessible to my children than if I had had to study at a University elsewhere.

The training was exceedlingly hard work, but hugely enjoyable. I was so fortunate in every area, that I had no doubt that I was doing the right thing. I had a fantastically supportive mentor in a very respected school, who took me on once my training was complete. I have since left that school and moved to another where I am working once more with the teacher who supported me so well during my NQT year.

I have no regrets, and am thoroughly enjoying my new career. It's not all been a bed of roses since qualifying - I have had my issues and problems - but I have been helped through by some great people. Mum is, and I'm certain that Dad would be, proud of my achievements - I like to think that somewhere he is!