At Stromness academy there is always lots going on around the year and not a lot of people know about what goes on with the teachers. Some are just starting their careers and some are almost leaving the school.
We wanted to interview some teachers who started around 30 years ago and the new teachers that have started in the last 2-3 years to see some differences in their careers so far.
Mr Blance, a physics teacher at the school, has been here since 1989. He said that when he started teaching, “There were a lot more people to teach and it was more crowded. All of the staff where different too, and I was actually the youngest.”
When asked what it was like seeing the other members of staff leave the school through the years, he said, “It wasn’t really that weird; it was just like people leaving at any other job but then it was almost all male teachers and the nav school was still a part of the school.”
Mr Blance didn’t feel too much pressure as a new teacher in 1989. “I wasn’t really pressured when I started because I had already taught in a school in Aberdeen and I just followed the course. I started here in 1989 but after a bit I went to Perth, Australia to teach for a year but then came back.”
The school has changed a lot during the time Mr Blance has been here. He said, “There used to be four houses and five practical classes. Activities has always been a thing but we never used to finish early on a Friday. The school layout has changed a lot: the rooms in the SfL base used to be the dentist’s. There was never the access for disabled pupils until recently and there used to be a smokers’ area in the staffroom. There was also never any college courses offered to you back then; none of the agriculture courses. I don’t think it’s better the way it is now.”
Mr Blance said that even after 32 years, “I don’t feel more important in the school; I just feel more experienced.”
Miss Ewen in PE started teaching at the academy in 2022. She said, “being a young teacher at the school is exciting. I feel like I am able to relate to pupils and provide learning opportunities that are meaningful to them.”
“I do not feel less important [as a newer staff member]. I feel listened to as a member of staff and with pupils, I feel like due to the relationships I’ve made, pupils respect is given to me and is reciprocated back to them.”
Miss Ewen said her ‘favourite time of year is the end. It’s a great time to celebrate our pupils’ successes in events like Sports Day, Senior Phase Awards Ceremony and Junior Inter-county.”
Mr Blance is also looking forwards to the end of term. “My favourite day of the year is absolutely Band Comp”.
Mr Powell is just finishing his first year of teaching English and will be going to work at a different school after the summer. He said, “my favourite day of the year was going to Hoy [on the S2 Hoy trip] and also the drama activity,” where students competed in the SCDA festival, performing a play both written and directed by Mr Powell. “It’s quite a nice school to work at.”
Report by Scott, Sony, Thomas, Harvey, Ruari.
