Laura was at Norwich High School for Girls for 10 years, from the age of 8-18, after relocating from Bedford and joining Norwich High in Year 4. The family came to Norwich High on the recommendation of Laura’s Bedford Primary School teacher, who was also an alumna of the school!

Laura says: “I loved my time as a student at Norwich High and was always involved with as much as I could be – singing, school performances and Duke of Edinburgh to name a few. My mum remembers that she could never seem to get me to leave the school building, because I was always busy doing something like Chamber Choir. I even remember being here during the 125th anniversary of the school. I still have the whole school commemorative photo from that year at home and I’m so excited to be back for our 150th year in 2025.”

Laura describes always knowing she wanted to teach. Whilst at school, she grasped every chance to get involved in working with younger students, including helping with the after school clubs and Prep lessons. After leaving Norwich High, she embarked on a gap year in New Zealand, working as a teaching assistant for international students before studying Natural Sciences at Durham University, specialising in Chemistry in her final year.

Post university, Laura qualified as a teacher through Teach First, working in a number of schools across Sheffield. This included working in a coaching capacity, travelling around schools in Yorkshire coaching new teachers for Teach First.

“I worked in schools across Sheffield for 15 years and it was such a valuable way to gain experience in a huge range of schools – some more challenging than others! I’m passionate about teaching and it was wonderful to also have the opportunity to work alongside trainees and help them grow and develop as teaching professionals.”

In September 2023, Laura returned to Norfolk for a weekend away, which included a school reunion with the Class of 2004 at Norwich High School for Girls. Laura reflects on how this was the first moment in a series of events that would see her family relocate to Norfolk.

“I remember walking around the school site during our reunion and just thinking, ‘I was so happy here’. Having worked in lots of schools, I know that is very much not the universal experience for people and it was wonderful to have such happy memories here. It was amazing to look around the Prep School on our tour, which included the beautiful Early Years spaces that didn’t even exist when I was at school. We had just started to look for primary schools for my daughter and were feeling a bit underwhelmed by the offering in Sheffield. Suddenly we were considering how amazing it could be for my daughter to come to Norwich High Prep and I remember discussing with my husband on the drive home whether the time was right to relocate to Norfolk.”

Around Easter time, a job as Head of Chemistry at Norwich High School for Girls was advertised and Laura describes it as perfect timing.

“We weren’t just going to move for any job and there was no guarantee that something like this role would come up, so when I saw the Head of Chemistry job it really felt like fate somehow. Everything just seemed to fall into place and it was amazing to go home and tell my daughter that we would be moving to Norwich.”

“One of the biggest things I credit an all girls education with is the sense of confidence it gave me. Even now as an adult, it has given me such a strong foundation. I remember coming to interview for this role and knowing I was just as capable as anyone else there. I know what good teaching looks like and I think I can also bring so much more to the role than just teaching, especially with my experience of being a student at Norwich High.

“I absolutely adore teaching and learning, that’s what I really care about. I’ve always been a really creative person. I took an Art A Level alongside Chemistry and Maths, which is quite an unusual combination, so I enjoy bringing some of that creativity to Chemistry. Being in independent education also allows for that creativity to flourish, as I found that a lot of my time was being taken up with behaviour management in my previous teaching roles. With smaller class sizes and students who are keen to learn we can really explore some of that creativity.

“Looking to the future, I think lifelong learning really matters. I’m excited to get stuck into looking at our curriculum and teaching practices in the Chemistry department and to seeing how we can continually improve. I always have an open door policy on all my lessons; I think it’s so valuable to be able to learn from other teachers and colleagues. I’m also excited to feel more settled so I can begin to take part in other parts of school life too…I’m already hearing rumours of the Christmas panto!”