In our series of finding more about people and their jobs we interviewed a primary school teacher and ask him about his job.
Course Feeder (CF): Hi, what is your name and what is your job title?
Lee McGarrigal (LM): My name is Lee McGarrigal and I am a primary school teacher.
CF: How long have you been a primary school teacher?
LM: I've been teaching since 2005.
CF: What made you want to be a primary school teacher?
LM: I liked the thought of helping to shape young minds. Also, my partner was a teacher and she thought I'd love it. Which I do.
CF: What relevant teaching qualifications do you hold?
LM: I hold a Management degree and a Post Graduate Diploma in Physiology. But to become a qualified teacher I did a course called Graduate Teaching Programme (GTP), which was a year long course at Goldsmith College in London. During the GTP I had two placements at local school in London.
CF: How long did it take you to qualify as a primary school teacher?
LM: After the year-long GTP course I had to do a year working under the status as a newly qualified teacher for a year. So two year in total.
CF: What qualities do you have that make you a good primary school teacher?
LM: You have to have a passion for people and for teaching as well as be able to work in a team. Communication is a huge part of the job, from talking to children, working alongside other teachers and conversing with parents.
CF: What does a typical day as a primary school teacher look like for you?
LM: Gosh! Every day is very different. Even if it's Maths first period, followed by English, then Science or History, the lesson will be different, the way the children access will be different and the discussion around the subject will change. That is the beauty of teaching. No two days are the same. Plus some of the things children say are hysterical.
CF: What is the best thing about being a primary school teacher?
LM: Watching the children learn new ideas and use them in real life situations.
CF: If you weren't a primary school teacher, what would be your dream job and why?
LM: An actor. I always fancied treading the boards and staring in movies.
CF: What do you do in you down time?
LM: I have a young daughter so what down time? Seriously, I love spending time with my family and outside of this watching movies and eating great food.
CF: For someone looking to be a primary school teacher what advice would you give them?
LM: Go for it! Days can be long and tiring but is so much fun. It's not like a real job at all.
CF: What other jobs have you had in the past?
LM: Ah. A few. I've worked as a builder's labourer and a warehouse lackey to pay my way through university. I've managed a leisure centre and been a personal trainer.
CF: How does being a primary school teacher compare to your previous jobs?
LM: To be a personal trainer you have be to a great communicator and a motivator. Plus you're job is to educate people and helping them to achieve their goals. So, in some ways it is very similar, but now I work with little people.
CF: Thank you for your time Lee and we wish you all the best in your choosen career.
If you're interested in becoming a primary school teacher visit https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk
