“The moment when you say something to a child that makes a genuine difference, and you either see a lightbulb come on or a smile across their face, that’s when it makes you feel like you’re really making a difference.”

It’s clear that Matt Taylor lived and breathed rowing at The University of St Andrews Boat Club. Part of the club for four years, with two as president, he was crucial in leading the club to become one of the best in the country; gaining multiple BUCS medals and reaching the Henley Regatta semi-final. 

During his time at the Boat Club, Matt developed key abilities to problem solve and take on criticism. His business-like mindset helped him realise his potential and use it in his current role as a maths teacher; “I saw my time as a president as a business, whenever I was running the club, the turnover was in medals, performance and satisfaction from the athletes. I think that’s the attitude I’ve taken in the classroom.” 

Matt Taylor Representing the University of St Andrews Boat Club

Several members of Matt's wider family are teachers, so for him it felt like a natural career path. Matt began his teaching journey in July 2019 at the Summer Institute, where during this time he got the opportunity to meet other Teach Firsters, visit his new school, and learn all the important skills to become a teacher. Now a year and a half on, and as a qualified teacher, he looks back on his first year, ‘‘I absolutely loved it, you feel like you’re developing. You can see the students develop lesson by lesson making faster progress, and just like university when you see your club do better - you can take a bit of satisfaction out of that personally.” 

Matt spoke passionately about the impact sport has on children's development; as a sixth form tutor he advocates to all his students the benefits sport can have, not only on their future but also how positive it can be for mental health: “I never want sport to be a tick box.” He then goes onto talk about the discipline that sportspeople innately have, and particularly “as things move more and more online, it’s important that we don’t forget about the role of sport.”  

Understandably, the last year has been a very hard time for teachers. Matt has seen the positivity in such an odd first year on the programme, “This time has really built my resilience and adaptability, there’s even some parts that I love about it [home-schooling]. I think because all the staff are in the same boat we have really come together, and it’s the same in the Teach First community as well.”  

The Teach First community is something that Matt really appreciates. The first year of teaching, while exciting, can be tough at times, but he values the support received from Teach First – “everything from understanding behaviour management and workload, to the basics of how to actually teach a certain topic.”  

Matt and the University of St Andrews Boat Club at BUCS Regatta

The leadership development aspect of the course was where Matt truly thrived. “Being thrown in at the deep end, and getting the opportunity to straight away teach your own class four times a week, has been my favourite bit of the programme.”   

Matt also highlights the benefits of the Teach First programme compared to other programmes; “You have the responsibility of the same class in the same school – you get to know the kids and care for them pastorally, and crucially, you also have the opportunity to develop them as human beings (as well as try and teach them maths!).” 

An Evening with Teach First: Male Representation in the Classroom

Matt is speaking at 'An Evening with Teach First' on Thursday 25 February, register for the free event below

REGISTER HERE

 

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