Alison Brown

"I love it when pupils surprise themselves and discover what they are capable of."

Why did you become a teacher?

I became a wife and mother almost as soon as I left university. I used to go to my sons' school as a parent helper and watched an inspirational teacher at work. Her enthusiasm for the children and their learning made me want to do it.

How did you know teaching is for you?

I had a real sense of excitement in a classroom and an odd certainty that this was the place for me. It did take time to think carefully about my calling though. A close friend and I, another Mum, helped each other a lot as we went through a process of testing the idea. She ended up being ordained and I decided to teach, but we both felt our respective callings very strongly. The irony is that on the Sunday before I started my PGCE and she went off to begin her training, only one of us was called out to be prayed for in church. I leave you to guess who! I think it is sad that often the church doesn't recognise the really important work that teachers do.

Can teachers make a difference to their pupils' lives?

I remember a boy I taught for two years when he was 10 and 11 years old. He had a very difficult background and his self-esteem was rock bottom. He used to bang his head against the wall if he couldn't do the work. Over the two years he settled down a bit, but I was really worried for his future. My house group prayed for him a lot. Just recently, eight years later, I heard that he was visiting schools as part of a local authority sports training scheme. He is happy, polite and confident. Brilliant! I get a real buzz from seeing children who have written themselves off begin to believe in themselves. I love it when pupils surprise themselves and discover what they are capable of.

Do other teachers know you are a Christian?

I didn't tell my colleagues I was a Christian when I was teaching. Given that my current job is with the Church I suppose it's now fairly obvious! But in schools I thought I needed to earn the label. It usually came out in conversations about weekends or the family. I believe that it is what we are and the values we live out that are crucially important. I try and offer an alternative outlook on life; material wealth isn't the best thing to aspire to; serving each other is important; we have spiritual lives so let's pay attention to them; we have a duty to make the world a fairer place. Being a Christian teacher does create an extra burden. I am aware of my shortcomings and I am aware of representing so much more than just me. I have been known as the 'religious' one, but haven't encountered animosity. Indeed some colleagues sought me out to confide in me.

What would you say to a Christian who was thinking of going into teaching?

It is hard work - at times gruelling; you need lots of stamina. But it is hugely rewarding and great fun.