In Conversation With…

Dr Pat Miller – Prep School Deputy Head

What do you enjoy most about working at Llandovery College?

Above all, the pupils make my job so enjoyable; they are fantastic. Everyone who visits the College comments on the “family feel” about the place and how welcoming and kind the pupils are.

I also love the fact that no two days are ever the same at Llandovery College and also the freedom we have as teachers to initiate things that will benefit the children. For example, I have a PHD in Chemistry, so I have created a fun Science Club for the Nursery and Reception children. This has proven to be an exciting and interesting way for young children to develop their own love of science. We are so lucky to follow the National Curriculum but not be bound by it allowing us as teachers to foster a true love of learning in all our pupils.

As a teacher, it is great to have the opportunity to lead with our own passions and to use our best judgements to do things that really make a difference to our pupils.

What kind of relationship do you have with the pupils and how does this benefit their education/ time at Llandovery?

The teachers at Llandovery College spend a lot of time with the children and, because we have small classes, we get to know them incredibly well. We have such good communication with our pupils which means we have a strong safety net where we can quickly see if something is not quite right and do something that can really make a difference.

Is there a particular pupil success story from Llandovery College that stands out to you?

This is a difficult question to answer as every child thrives in their own way and we have many success stories to tell but there is one that is especially heart-warming for me.

I noticed that one of our usually happy and bubbly pupils had begun to seem a little withdrawn. After a chat, I asked him if he would like to help me out with the Science Club, believing that it would be a great way to build his confidence. Now, this little boy takes pride in running the club and his self-esteem has rocketed. This is a great example of the holistic approach we take to education.

At other, larger schools children can get a little lost and teachers don’t know them but at Llandovery College we know each and every one of our pupils and this has enormous advantages for our pupils and teachers alike.