Super Sir becomes a class role model

TRAILBLAZING teacher Steve Hill has been headhunted to act as a national ambassador for his profession.

The deputy head of St Joseph’s Primary School, Shaw, got a surprise call from the Goverment’s Training and Development Agency asking for his help.

“I was asked if I was willing to work with them in a campaign to raise the profile of teaching,” he explained.

Mr Hill won the prestigious title of North West Primary School Teacher of the Year in 2006, and was runner-up in the national phase of the contest.

He was also a judge for the National Teaching Awards of 2009, and he believes it is his reputation which prompted the agency to seek his help.

He said: “I told them I would help in any way I can, to encourage people to think about a career change into teaching, and also to boost the numbers of men coming into the profession.

“I am passionate about raising the profile of teaching among males, because there are very few about.

“I teach the whole curriculum to my Year Six class and enjoy seeing them develop during the year and grow into young individuals.

“I love my sports, and I get to do that every evening with pupils, encouraging them to enjoy sports just for fun or to compete.

“I take them rock climbing and to the Lake District to take part in activities, we do lots of fundraising, through which we have a link with the RAF, which the children love.

“I get to do everything I wished I had been able to do myself as a schoolchild, and hopefully I am able to inspire the children I teach — it’s a fantastic job.”

Before he became a teacher, Mr Hill spent three years training and working as a quantity surveyor at George Dew, Oldham.

“By then I realised it wasn’t for me, it didn’t fulfil me, and it was my mother, who was a dinner lady at Hodge Clough School, who suggested I consider being a teacher,” he said.

“It was the last thing I wanted to do, but she encouraged me to give it a go so I took three weeks holidays from work and did some work experience in local schools.

“I really enjoyed it and I have never look back.”

Mr Hill has now been a teacher for 14 years, seven at St Aidan and Oswald, Royton, and seven as deputy head at St Joseph’s.

His first role as teaching ambassador involved him in an online open forum, answering questions about making a career change.

And at half term he will take part in a BBC radio interview.

He said: “It is nice to have been asked to promote a job I love.”