"I - and my colleagues - found Sarah to be a very willing helper for staff and children.
Her knowledge, genuine interest and enthusiasm made her very enjoyable to work with.
She built up an excellent relationship with the children and encouraged them in their work."
Her knowledge, genuine interest and enthusiasm made her very enjoyable to work with.
She built up an excellent relationship with the children and encouraged them in their work."
Pauline Martin, headteacher, South Kilworth Primary School
In the three years since I left school after completing A Levels in Maths, Chemistry and Biology, I've had many different jobs, in varied areas of work, and in three different continents. I've picked up many skills along the way - the ability to deal with the public, from my jobs as a leisure attendant and a waitress; teaching skills from my position with Systems and Education; teamwork skills from volunteering in Guatemala; the ability to multi-task from a wide variety of nanny jobs, and also skills in a few different languages!
I've worked with adults and children, on my own and as part of a team, with humans and animals, and I've learnt so much along the way - a lot more than I think I would have done if I'd half-heartedly followed the "normal" route and gone to university.
For more information about my experiences, skills and qualifications, and interests, click here.
Full CV
Curriculum Vitae for Sarah McSharry
A Levels gained June 2006: Maths (B), Chemistry (C), Biology (C), General Studies (C)
GCSEs gained 2004: Mathematics (A*), Biology (A), Textiles Technology (A), Music (A), Spanish (A), English Language (A), Chemistry (B), Physics (B), Religious Education (B), English Literature (B), PE (C), Information Technology (C).
Previous Education:Thomas Estley Community College (1999-2002)
Lutterworth Grammar School (2002-2006)
Work experience:
Ullesthorpe Court Hotel – a country hotel, golf and leisure complex, where I worked for two and a half years as a Leisure attendant. My duties in this job were very varied, and included interacting with customers, both personally and on the telephone, and ensuring the cleanliness of the leisure centre. July 2004 – December 2006.
Systems and Education Limited - a local computing company. I had a wide range of tasks, starting with administrative and secretarial support work. Also, I supported the company by regularly visiting some of their local primary school customers and helped the full time teaching staff deliver elements of the ICT curriculum. Whilst at the company I helped them to prepare materials for their new ICT trainer, and was instrumental in helping them achieve official training status with Softease – one of the leading suppliers in their marketplace. August 2006 – December 2006.
The Elms Public House, Lutterworth -a local restaurant, where I worked as a waitress, and gained more experience working as part of a team, as well as experience of working with members of the public. August 2006 – December 2006.
Hobbies and Interests:I was a member of the Army Cadet Force for over four years, but had to stop due to school and work commitments. Through cadets I have achieved a great deal. I have represented my country at Tug of War, and county at Athletics and Cross Country. I also gained the rank of Corporal, which shows that I have leadership qualities and can think for myself. However, the ACF is focused around team work, so I work well as a member of a team, and am used to the discipline of working to instructions.
For four months, I acted as a volunteer study coach at the GREAT Learning Centre at Leicestershire Country Cricket Club, part of the Playing for Success initiative. Here, children aged 10-14 who are struggling with school work attend the centre for one evening a week to help improve learning and boost confidence. Each coach is allocated one or two students, to enable the children to develop a trusting relationship with their study coach, which at the same time allows the study coach to track the progress of their student(s) easily. I found this hugely rewarding, as I saw the benefits of my work reflected in the progress of the young girl I was mentoring. Through GREAT, I have received enhanced CRB clearance as well as the First Aid Appointed Person certificate.
I enjoy travelling, having started in December 2006 and not really gone home since! I spent five months in Australia, where I travelled fairly extensively, as well as working for two months as a nanny for four children aged between 1 and 6 years. I then spent two months in Guatemala, where I volunteered at an animal rescue centre before moving to Belgium, where I spent four months working as a nanny again, for two girls aged 7 and 8. I then moved to Sweden, where I worked again as a nanny, for two children, aged 4 and 6. I spent summer 2008 working at an English-speaking children's summer camp, until the middle of August, with children aged between 3 and 11. I then worked as a nanny again, for two children aged 7 and 5, and worked again at the summer camp during this summer. During the time at the summer camp I was also asked to photograph the children, and have successfully sold photo collages up to A2 size to parents, as well as photo/video DVDs.
I now work part-time as a nanny to a 20-month-old boy. As part of this job I've just taken a Swedish course in child safety and first aid (Barnsäkerhet och första hjälpen). I enjoy photography, jogging and listening to music in my spare time. I'm studying Swedish, and passed Svenska som Andra Språk (SAS) A. I also completed a Dutch course, with 90% in the final exam. I play the clarinet, and have achieved a Merit at Grade 5. I enjoy raising money for charity, and as well as a sponsored dog walking scheme I organised when I was 11 to raise money for a local animal rescue centre, I have also completed an 80ft abseil and 11,000ft sky dive to raise money for the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind).
References:
Adrian Gyles
Headteacher, Croft Primary School
gylesa2@croft.leics.sch.uk
Pauline Martin
Headteacher, South Kilworth Primary School
office18@southkilworth.leics.sch.uk
Heather Rawling
Manager, Leicestershire County Cricket Club Playing For Success Centre
manager@lcccstudy.com
Sara Welsh
Manager, Leisure Centre, Ullesthorpe Court Hotel
+44 1455 201734
Toni Lachowski
Director, Systems and Eduction
toni@systemed.co.uk
A Levels gained June 2006: Maths (B), Chemistry (C), Biology (C), General Studies (C)
GCSEs gained 2004: Mathematics (A*), Biology (A), Textiles Technology (A), Music (A), Spanish (A), English Language (A), Chemistry (B), Physics (B), Religious Education (B), English Literature (B), PE (C), Information Technology (C).
Previous Education:Thomas Estley Community College (1999-2002)
Lutterworth Grammar School (2002-2006)
Work experience:
Ullesthorpe Court Hotel – a country hotel, golf and leisure complex, where I worked for two and a half years as a Leisure attendant. My duties in this job were very varied, and included interacting with customers, both personally and on the telephone, and ensuring the cleanliness of the leisure centre. July 2004 – December 2006.
Systems and Education Limited - a local computing company. I had a wide range of tasks, starting with administrative and secretarial support work. Also, I supported the company by regularly visiting some of their local primary school customers and helped the full time teaching staff deliver elements of the ICT curriculum. Whilst at the company I helped them to prepare materials for their new ICT trainer, and was instrumental in helping them achieve official training status with Softease – one of the leading suppliers in their marketplace. August 2006 – December 2006.
The Elms Public House, Lutterworth -a local restaurant, where I worked as a waitress, and gained more experience working as part of a team, as well as experience of working with members of the public. August 2006 – December 2006.
Hobbies and Interests:I was a member of the Army Cadet Force for over four years, but had to stop due to school and work commitments. Through cadets I have achieved a great deal. I have represented my country at Tug of War, and county at Athletics and Cross Country. I also gained the rank of Corporal, which shows that I have leadership qualities and can think for myself. However, the ACF is focused around team work, so I work well as a member of a team, and am used to the discipline of working to instructions.
For four months, I acted as a volunteer study coach at the GREAT Learning Centre at Leicestershire Country Cricket Club, part of the Playing for Success initiative. Here, children aged 10-14 who are struggling with school work attend the centre for one evening a week to help improve learning and boost confidence. Each coach is allocated one or two students, to enable the children to develop a trusting relationship with their study coach, which at the same time allows the study coach to track the progress of their student(s) easily. I found this hugely rewarding, as I saw the benefits of my work reflected in the progress of the young girl I was mentoring. Through GREAT, I have received enhanced CRB clearance as well as the First Aid Appointed Person certificate.
I enjoy travelling, having started in December 2006 and not really gone home since! I spent five months in Australia, where I travelled fairly extensively, as well as working for two months as a nanny for four children aged between 1 and 6 years. I then spent two months in Guatemala, where I volunteered at an animal rescue centre before moving to Belgium, where I spent four months working as a nanny again, for two girls aged 7 and 8. I then moved to Sweden, where I worked again as a nanny, for two children, aged 4 and 6. I spent summer 2008 working at an English-speaking children's summer camp, until the middle of August, with children aged between 3 and 11. I then worked as a nanny again, for two children aged 7 and 5, and worked again at the summer camp during this summer. During the time at the summer camp I was also asked to photograph the children, and have successfully sold photo collages up to A2 size to parents, as well as photo/video DVDs.
I now work part-time as a nanny to a 20-month-old boy. As part of this job I've just taken a Swedish course in child safety and first aid (Barnsäkerhet och första hjälpen). I enjoy photography, jogging and listening to music in my spare time. I'm studying Swedish, and passed Svenska som Andra Språk (SAS) A. I also completed a Dutch course, with 90% in the final exam. I play the clarinet, and have achieved a Merit at Grade 5. I enjoy raising money for charity, and as well as a sponsored dog walking scheme I organised when I was 11 to raise money for a local animal rescue centre, I have also completed an 80ft abseil and 11,000ft sky dive to raise money for the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind).
References:
Adrian Gyles
Headteacher, Croft Primary School
gylesa2@croft.leics.sch.uk
Pauline Martin
Headteacher, South Kilworth Primary School
office18@southkilworth.leics.sch.uk
Heather Rawling
Manager, Leicestershire County Cricket Club Playing For Success Centre
manager@lcccstudy.com
Sara Welsh
Manager, Leisure Centre, Ullesthorpe Court Hotel
+44 1455 201734
Toni Lachowski
Director, Systems and Eduction
toni@systemed.co.uk
Pauline Martin's testimonial in full
To whom this may concern,
I am the headteacher of a small rural primary school in Leicestershire. As our school is only 2 classes a great deal of my time is spent teaching the children.
When our school invested in extra computers 3 years ago, I was concerned that it would be very difficult for me and our staff to help the children start to use them constructively. Mike McSharry - the owner of Systems and Education - suggested that we should use his daughter, Sarah, in the school to help us on our initial use of the new systems.
I - and my colleagues - found Sarah to be a very willing helper for staff and children. Her knowledge, genuine interest and enthusiasm made her very enjoyable to work with. She built up an excellent relationship with the children and encouraged them in their work.
During the time she was with us she gave us all the extra confidence and skills we needed to make very rapid progress with our new computer systems.
If anyone would like to contact me for any more of my views of Sarah, please feel free to do so.
Yours faithfully
Pauline Martin
Headteacher.
I am the headteacher of a small rural primary school in Leicestershire. As our school is only 2 classes a great deal of my time is spent teaching the children.
When our school invested in extra computers 3 years ago, I was concerned that it would be very difficult for me and our staff to help the children start to use them constructively. Mike McSharry - the owner of Systems and Education - suggested that we should use his daughter, Sarah, in the school to help us on our initial use of the new systems.
I - and my colleagues - found Sarah to be a very willing helper for staff and children. Her knowledge, genuine interest and enthusiasm made her very enjoyable to work with. She built up an excellent relationship with the children and encouraged them in their work.
During the time she was with us she gave us all the extra confidence and skills we needed to make very rapid progress with our new computer systems.
If anyone would like to contact me for any more of my views of Sarah, please feel free to do so.
Yours faithfully
Pauline Martin
Headteacher.
