Mentoring rewarding for inspirational teacher

John Dalziel with trainees (from left) Sarah Ball, Catherine Payne and Jacqueline Bielderman

A BIOLOGY teacher who has inspired and helped scores of trainees to follow in his footsteps has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

John Dalziel has run the teacher-training programme at Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools for 15 years.

It works in partnership with several major North-West universities including Manchester, Liverpool John Moores, Chester and Manchester Metropolitan.

Trainees can spend anything from a couple of days at Hulme, to find out more about the profession, to a couple of terms under the guidance of a team of mentors from various departments.

Some have even gone on to work at the independent school in Werneth — including its current head of English — or helped to mentor the next generation of trainees in turn.

Mr Dalziel, who is head of middle school, has taught at Hulme for 17 years. In December he was awarded senior associate tutor status by Manchester University in recognition of his work with their trainees.

He is delighted at the nomination and said: “It is very fulfilling and part of my job that I particularly enjoy.

“It is very rewarding to be able to put something back into the profession and to see people’s skills develop.

“The trainees are often quite nervous. They are not sure how they are going to manage and what type of teacher they are going to be. To watch their confidence grow during their time here is very rewarding.

“It is also bringing professional people into Oldham, many of whom end up working in schools in and around Oldham.”

Mr Dalziel was nominated by Hulme principal Dr Paul Neeson, who said: “In his 17 years at Hulme, John has worked incessantly to provide an inspiration to pupils and teachers alike.

“His efforts in initial teacher-training have not gone unnoticed and his enthusiasm and engaging nature with which he has undertaken this role have benefited both the school and the trainees.”