I taught English in Hertfordshire for 34 years, before retiring in August 2017. I began my career in a boys' school in Bushey, where I taught for three years. I subsequently moved to a mixed school in Bushey where I remained for three years, until I had my first child. I worked in another comprehensive school for sixteen years, this time in Welwyn Garden city. During this time I had my second child. In 2005, I began working in St Albans. Not only have I held positions of responsibility in all four schools, I have also had extensive experience as a mentor for NQTs, PGCE students as well as teachers who joined the profession via Schools Direct. In summary, I was a career teacher; I believe children deserve excellent practitioners and my aim was always to deliver quality in the classroom. Consequently I was enormously proud (and humbled) when I was nominated for Secondary School Teacher of the Year, in my local area, and was one of four finalists.