Gavin Warke

When I was researching what to do with a Spanish degree, teaching seemed like the most natural progression.

I really liked what was on offer in Manchester, it stood out from the other courses available nearby - the course directors and Institute staff ultimately are what drove me to choose Manchester.

I was made to feel at ease, with a sense of belonging right from my initial interview. 

The reputation of the University was also a massive factor for me, and this also helped me be more successful in interviews further down the line.

On how the PGCE prepared me for teaching 

My time at Manchester helped me develop into a reflective practitioner - Louisa Dawes will be proud of sticking with me!

I feel the holistic approach taken at Manchester for their PGCE students builds them to be outstanding student teachers, gaining the skills to go on and become outstanding graduate teachers.

A lot of what I learned in Manchester still sticks with me while working abroad.  

On how my career has developed since graduation 

I stayed in Manchester working at an inner-city school, before changing school for promotion to Head of Department.

I then moved to Abu Dhabi to work, and now work in Dubai as Head of Languages at Amity International School. 

As a leader of Modern Foreign Languages, I have overall responsibility for the performance and development of the MFL curriculum.

I design an appropriate and progressive curriculum in MFL that reflects the ethos of the school and meets the needs of all students.

I oversee the progression of students from KS2 up to KS4 by encouraging young people to be curious, interested, and enjoy a Foreign Language. 

On my advice for anyone wanting to follow in my footsteps 

Research teaching, and be prepared for working long hours in the beginning.

One thing I learned was how to do the longhand, so you can do the shorthand.

Overall, teaching is a super rewarding career!