Vikki Boothroyd

Life before Teesside High School
After graduating with a degree in Management from Lancaster University I worked in industry for over seven years, first as a graduate trainee for Bombardier and later for Rolls-Royce with a minor detour of a 6-month around the world adventure between these two jobs! My travels through South-East Asia, Australia and South America resulted in me climbing volcanoes, cycling down the world’s most dangerous road and completing the Inca Trail. The opportunity to travel really highlighted the value of high quality education:  it provides options and choices we often take for granted that many do not have. These experiences influenced my decision to retrain as a teacher.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love the variety! In teaching there is never a dull moment as variety can come from many different sources. Some are more predictable, such as teaching different age groups or subjects, but others are less so and reflect the breadth of opportunities the school provides. I have supported a Duke of Edinburgh group on their Silver Expedition to the Yorkshire Dales and helped Sixth Formers experience the world of business first hand setting up a Young Enterprise Company. My subjects, Business Studies and Economics, are GCSE and A-level courses. It is always a delight and a privilege seeing students succeed on results day after all their hard work and effort.
What do you enjoy most about Teesside High School?
Teesside High School is a wonderful place to work. As a small school it has a really friendly, caring atmosphere which enables me as a teacher to get to know both my colleagues and students well. The students are enthusiastic, motivated and eager to learn which makes lessons enjoyable. The small class sizes enable teachers to tailor lessons to the strengths of each group.
What is your favourite lesson?
I really look forward to teaching Operations Management as this allows me to draw upon my practical experience in industry. Students can find this topic more challenging: It can be more difficult to relate to but I enjoy using my prior experiences to explain the different topics and bring the subject to life. Operations Management also lends itself to fun and practical lessons, whether that involves learning about different production methods by manufacturing dice or how just-in-time manufacturing can become just-too-late!
What do others say about you?
I think my colleagues and many of my students would describe me as being well organised and dedicated. I think this makes for a productive and purposeful classroom learning environment, although (unfortunately?) for my students, it also means I closely monitor homework deadlines!