Mrs Althea Glass

Before Sackville

After my post graduate teacher training in 1976, I started teaching English and Drama at the young age of 22 at a prestigious boarding school in South Africa. I soon realised that I had a strong desire to travel and saved enough money to travel on one of the last ocean liners from Cape Town to Europe. I spent the next few years (my extended gap years!) travelling with friends, working my way through Europe, teaching English as a foreign language in Germany, picking grapes in France and working as a crew member on chartered yachts in the South of France, to name but a few of my escapades! I first gained experience teaching in England by working as a supply teacher in some extremely challenging state secondary schools in London, moving to West Kent in 1978 where I took up my first post at a local secondary school as a Drama and English teacher. I enjoyed directing plays and teaching English Literature. Since then I have taught in several schools in the Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells area, arriving at Sackville in 2001 where I have taught English and Drama ever since. I love teaching at Sackville and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

Why I enjoy my subject

I am passionate about reading and I enjoy encouraging others to read for pleasure. In an age of information technology and media exposure I feel, as an English teacher, I have an important role to preserve the literary tradition.

I gain a great deal of job satisfaction helping students who struggle with literacy and spoken expression. It is a real pleasure to see my students develop in confidence and improve their communication skills.

I enjoy group discussions and role play in which students are given the opportunity to air their views and use their imagination.

I enjoy researching and planning creative and stimulating lessons.

Why I enjoy Sackville?

Sackville is about small class sizes where every student matters. Real education can only take place in a safe and secure environment where everyone is valued and has the chance to reach his/her potential. I believe that Sackville provides the opportunity to grow in confidence.

The friendly atmosphere, the surroundings, the grounds and the location are second to none.

 My favourite Lesson?

I do not have a favourite lesson as my interests span teaching lower ability students at Key Stage 3 to providing my A level English Literature students with challenging topics and exciting reading material. I enjoy the variety of levels of ability, adapting to the needs of my students.

Other roles

I am enjoying my role as a Head of Lionheart. Providing fun and challenging competitions and lunch time activities has created a new ethos which gives the students a sense of group belonging. Healthy competition is good, enabling senior students to practise leadership and be good role models. Our new system of collecting merit tokens for the House has sparked interest amongst all age groups in achieving their personal best.

Passions

I am passionate about encouraging a love of reading and Drama.

I enjoy going to the theatre and cinema to watch exciting and thought provoking plays and films.

I enjoy foreign travel, especially to cities with a strong historical and cultural heritage. I have  interests in Art, Architecture and Music  and intend to further my studies when I retire from teaching, combining this with foreign travel. I have planned a trip to the Amazon Jungle and the Inca Trail in Peru for the summer of 2012.