
Rachel Kipling, Drama and PD Teacher, Furness Academy
After graduating from the University of Manchester I moved back to Barrow-in-Furness where I had grown up. After working for the NCS programme for two summers, I knew I wanted to work with young people and to use my Drama degree in some way.
I spent two years as a Graduate Intern at an outreach company Hello Future, which gave me the opportunity to deliver widening participation workshops in schools across the Furness area. After two years of working in schools I realised the part of my job I loved the most was working with young people, and so I decided the next move for me was teaching, but I didn’t want to move away to complete my PGCE.
Whilst delivering a series of workshops at Furness Academy I was signposted to the South Cumbria School Direct programme by a colleague, and where better to train than the school I had attended as a student! Throughout my training year I was given the opportunity to work in two local schools and experience a wide breadth of teaching styles. South Cumbria School Direct allowed me to train to teach in the area that I grew up in, and the blend of on-the-job experience and studying was a perfect introduction to the profession.
Since completing my training I have gone on to secure a job teaching Drama and Personal Development, a role which combines my previous education and work experience. Now I’m qualified I’ve been given opportunities to get involved in school activities inside and outside of the classroom. I’ve been given the opportunity to start my own cheerleading team and I am now choreographing the school musical, something I’ve always wanted to do!