Amanda went to school in Buckingham before going to read Theology at New College, Oxford having been inspired by her A-Level teacher. After working at Lambeth Palace Library for a year after graduation, when it became clear she wanted to maintain her engagement with Theology and train to offer the enthusiasm and inspiration she experienced at school, she did a PGCE in Secondary Religious Studies at the University College of Ripon and York St John in York training in a rural and an urban school. Her first teaching job was in a boys’ school in Croydon teaching a range of RS courses from Year 7 to 13. After three years she moved to be Head of Department at a well-known boys’ boarding school in North London where she successfully ran a large department for 10 years gaining excellent exam results.
On relocating to Kent Amanda worked as Head of RS and Deputy Head Academic at a Prep School for a number of years where she was responsible for maintaining high standards in teaching and learning. In this role, she took a particular interest in monitoring and mentoring teachers new to the profession and supporting and nurturing them in their early years.
Amanda has taught for over 20 years, returning to senior school teaching in recent years when moving back to the Midlands. Her work in education has also involved working for a leading exam board for over 15 years, in her role as Principal Examiner she helped write and implement the new A Level courses.
She now joins the School of Education to share her experience of teaching in single-sex and mixed schools, of day and boarding environments and her interest in supporting teachers and in all things education to develop new courses for the department.