Brentwood Preparatory School Magazine

11 Brentwood School Preparatory Salute Kristy Peacock After growing up in sunny Zimbabwe, my family and I returned to England, where I took my A levels and began my degree in Accounting. I soon realised, however, that accountancy was definitely not for me! Thankfully, while volunteering to help with reading at a local primary school, I saw the joy of helping children learn and achieve their potential and realised that teaching would be a far more rewarding and exciting career. So, after graduating, I started my teacher training. With my PGCE completed, I moved to London, became a KS1 class teacher in East London and married my husband, Simon. After having my two wonderful children, Jonty and Cassie, I enjoyed my next jobs as deputy manager of St Lawrence Preschool, Upminster, and, following a move to Shenfield, support teacher and Year 6 teaching assistant at Willowbrook School, Hutton. Being thoroughly jealous of Jonty and Cassie being able to attend Brentwood School every day meant that I was delighted and proud to join them by becoming a teaching assistant at the Prep in September 2016. I have had an action packed first year, enjoying working with such friendly and enthusiastic children and staff and having adventures such as Bikeability and Enrichment Week camping. I am now even discovering editing and learning more new skills by helping to produce Incipe! I look forward to many more happy and exciting years here at Brentwood Prep. Christian Kitley Joining Brentwood School in 2016 is a really exciting step in my teaching journey. I lived in Brentwood until very recently and have always admired Brentwood School’s values of academic and co-curricular excellence. Naturally, when the opportunity arose to become part of the school, I jumped at the chance. I attended the Cooper’s Company and Coborn School in Upminster for all of my time in secondary school, it was here that I discovered my love of helping others and decided to become a teacher. My father is a secondary school Maths teacher, so after hearing about his experiences, I decided Primary was the route for me! I believe that fun and enjoyment when learning is essential and there are so many opportunities for this at Brentwood School. I attended Canterbury Christ Church University to complete my degree in Primary Education where I specialised in History and PE. These are two passions of mine and ones that I am excited to pass on to the children here this year. I played a lot of sport at university, particularly Lacrosse, becoming President of the club during my final year. After university, I took up my first teaching post at Marks Gate Junior School with a Year 5 class. I thoroughly enjoyed my three years there where I gained lots of experience and developed into the teacher I am today. Whilst there, I co-ordinated history across the school, led the cricket teams and took a leading role in a Cambridge University research project about the use of talk in the classroom. Outside of school I play cricket for my local club, lead a scout group in Brentwood and spend lots of time in my garden (particularly with my 10 chickens and 2 ducks!). I am really excited to start teaching at the Prep with all the opportunities and challenges it offers. Roz Townsend My name is Roz Townsend and I have been an Essex teacher for twenty seven years! I have taught every year group from Reception to Year Six, most recently with Year Two at Writtle Infant School. I have always lived in Essex and currently live with my husband and daughter in sunny Maldon! My passions are reading and travelling and I recently visited Vietnam to help build a classroom for a Nursery School, which was an amazing and humbling experience. I am thrilled to be joining Brentwood School and look forward to working with you and your children. Staff