How long have you been working at Preston Montford? Hello, my name is Arran and I started at Preston Montford on May 1st
this year, as Education Team Leader. I soon discovered that May was the busiest
time of year to join the FSC Education Team and found myself immersed
immediately into the variety of challenges that face me in my new role. It has
been a bit of a ‘whirlwind’ start, but I must say, I’ve enjoyed every minute of
it due to the fact that I have joined a very competent and knowledgeable team,
who have been answering my many questions and providing lots of valuable
support.
Favourite subject in school? Geography was always my
favourite subject at school, particularly physical geography…learning about the
landscape of rivers and hills near where I grew up in Clitheroe, in Lancashire.
What did you do after leaving school? I took a year
out and cycled to France with very little money, a small tent, and my guitar on
my back, and spent the year in the Alps working as an au pair, a waiter and washing
up in a hotel… and busking every now and again when funds were low!
Where did you go to University? I went to Birmingham
University and studied Geography and Sport. It was a great 3 years where I met
some very good lifelong friends and following many visits to the University’s
outdoor centre in Coniston, I became hooked on mountaineering, climbing and
kayaking.
What did you do after university? I started as a
Trainee Instructor at The Kent Mountain Centre in Llanberis. I was out with
groups each day, learning from some great outdoor teachers, and out climbing or
running in the mountains every evening. Every group that came to the centre
wanted to climb Snowdon, so after nearly 2 years of working at the centre, I
think I must have climbed it at least 100 times!
When did you become a teacher? Whilst working at the
centre, I decided to apply to Leeds University to do a PGCE in Geography and
Outdoor Education. I found myself teaching Geography in an ‘inner city’ school
in Leeds, cycling in each morning whatever the weather, and sitting up each
night planning lessons and marking books. That then became my life for the next
4 years, as I started teaching Geography at Shire Oak school in Walsall.
When did you move to this area? I met my wife whilst
teaching in Walsall and after spending nearly every weekend driving up to
Snowdonia to go on climbing or walking adventures, we finally decided to move
to Wales in 2001. We have been here ever since, and we are now a family of five.
Where have you worked before starting at Preston Montford? When we first moved to Wales, I returned to working in the outdoors and started
teaching at Bryntysilio Outdoor Education centre in Llangollen. I was there for
almost 10 years, and for the last 3 of those, I took on the role of Deputy Head
of Centre. When another organisation took over the running of the centre, I
decided it was time to move on. I did another year teaching Geography in a
school in Oswestry and then started working with the British Red Cross,
delivering Humanitarian Education sessions in Schools for 3 years across
Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire. Following an organisational restructure
at the Red Cross, I moved on again and became Head of Land Based Studies at
Derwen Specialist College in Oswestry, where I was teaching woodwork,
conservation and horticulture sessions with students with additional needs.
When the Land Based Studies department amalgamated with two other departments at
Derwen, I left and taught for a term in another specialist college near
Shrewsbury. That brings me up to the present and starting here at FSC Preston
Montford.
What do you like about working here at Preston Montford? I
have had quite a varied career to this point, but certain themes have always
run through the things that I have done… geography, teaching, and outdoor
education. I have enjoyed each in different measure, at different times, and in
different settings. I now find myself in this role, enjoying them all in equal
measure, which is great.
I have a lot to learn, but I am looking forward to
developing my knowledge of the range of subjects that we teach and working with
the education and wider centre team, to continually develop and improve the
learning experience that we provide. I am a passionate advocate for the
benefits of learning in the outdoors and having the chance to be part of a team
that delivers high quality outdoor learning experiences in such a fantastic
setting, is a real privilege.
