Mr Paul Wiacek

Before Sackville

I initially trained as a Civil Engineer and worked for a short period at Bristol City Council in the main drainage department.  After a year I realised that working behind a desk was not for me and decided to take a break and do some travelling.  During this time I found myself working as a Canoe instructor in the south of France for PGL which I found exhilarating.  Instructing children and encouraging them to paddle down a raging rapid made me realise that teaching was something that I was good at and on finishing my contract with PGL I went to Brunel University to do my PGCE in Design Technology.

My first ten years of teaching were at St Bede’s School in East Sussex.  St Bede’s being a boarding and day co-educational school, where along with being second in department I was a boarding house assistant, in charge of canoening, DofE and outward bounds throughout the school.  For the last six years I have been happily working at Sackville School.

Why I enjoy my subject

Design Technology is about making things and being inventive.  You get instant results and everybody is capable of achieving within the subject.  Every day is different with students coming up with interesting and challenging projects.

Why I enjoy Sackville?

Sackville is a small, friendly school where everybody knows everybody with a strong feeling of family.  Students and staff are aware of the feelings of others within our community.

My favourite Lesson?

Practical lessons with A level students.  The students never cease to amaze me with their challenging and creative ideas.

Other roles

I also teach maths within the school to Year11 and Year9 classes, putting my engineering background to use.  DofE and outdoor pursuits have been a passion of mine for many years and I keep my toe in helping Mr Barham out with the expeditions run by the school.

Passions

Family naturally comes first, followed by DIY, reading and anything Sci-Fi on the telly.  If I ever won the lottery I would love to take up horology as clocks and watches have been a fascination to me since childhood.