Tooting teacher Laura Quinn stars in national TV advert to promote teaching

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

A teacher is one of the stars featuring in a new national TV advert which aims to inspire people up and down the country to consider teaching as a career.

Laura Quinn, an English teacher at Graveney School in Tooting, features in the advert, providing an authentic example of life as a teacher and the important interactions they have with the pupils they teach.

The new film, created as part of the national Get Into Teaching campaign, features a cast of real teachers who highlight that teaching isn’t just about what young people become, but also who they become.

Laura said: “I feel proud to be part of this recruitment campaign. I’ve been teaching for eight years now, which I feel really lucky about.

Like many careers, teaching comes with its challenges, but the reward of being in a position to help young people succeed, both inside and outside of the classroom, makes it so worthwhile.

“It is a privilege to work with so many passionate, talented teachers and to see the positive impact we can have on so many brilliant pupils.

Working with teenagers is so rewarding – they are funny, fascinating, inquisitive and full of life.”

The advert – live on TV from this week – follows the journey of a girl named Abi, from her very first day of school as a nervous, wide-eyed four-year-old through to her last, leaving at 18 with the confidence to discover her place in the world.

The advert airs across national TV in the commercial breaks of popular family shows such as Gogglebox and Coronation Street.

It will appear on TV networks and video on demand between now and early summer next year, and in cinemas during this October.

The launch of the campaign coincides with World Teachers’ Day (October 5) that also celebrates the efforts teachers make to education and the development of people.

Roger Pope, spokesperson for the Get Into Teaching campaign and a National Leader for Education, said: “A passionate teacher can truly shape the lives of students, from the child they teach to the adult they become.

“We hope that our new advert, which captures this pupil-teacher relationship over the years, will convey the many rewards that a career in teaching can bring, for both graduates and potential career changers.

“As well as the emotional rewards, teaching is a profession that has fantastic prospects including opportunities for progression.

It is also a flexible career that can take you to different locations and into different kinds of schools.

There are no great schools without great teachers – that’s why we’re always looking for people with the passion and potential to teach.”

As part of the campaign, a series of free online and face-to-face Train to Teach events are taking place across the country to provide more information, guidance and support to those considering teaching.

Individuals could get a £26,000 tax-free bursary to train as a teacher in selected subjects including science, computing, geography and languages.

For tailored advice and more information about teaching as a career and the upcoming events visit: https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk or call the Get Into Teaching line on 0800 389 2500.

Applications to start teacher training in September 2019 are due to open on Tuesday.