“I had no burning ambition to teach. I tried all sorts of jobs, but they didn’t stretch me or use my language skills. Then I saw the advertisements for teaching and decided to give it a go. And I soon wished I hadn’t. The PGCE year, mostly school-based, was horrendous. The three weeks we spent inollege were brilliant, but in the schools we felt pretty detached; the work and stress were demanding. There was no personal life, and it was impossible to make ends meet.

“So I didn’t apply for teaching jobs. I ended up with LloydsTSB, training as a banking adviser. It was less stressful. But I never forgot the teaching I had enjoyed. Then, out of the blue, one of my old teachers contacted me and told me the school desperately needed a modern languages teacher and would I go for interview? I said no, but two months later she rang again to repeat the offer, so I decided to give it a try.

“So here I am, back in my old school. And I don’t regret it. It’s very much a new department - lots of of changes, lots of excitement. The head of languages is brilliant. We’ve won specialist status as a language college, and we’ve reintroduced Italian, which is now compulsory (with French) for all top sets. I’m pleased about that - it’s my strongest language.

“I enjoy what I do. I love to convey my enthusiasm for languages. There’s real satisfaction in helping kids learn, even if for some of them it’s only learning more about themselves. The kids enjoy my lessons, but I’m not in any way ‘outstanding’. I was just fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, supported by colleagues, friends, family and students. But I wouldn’t declare that teaching is my life, or say it’s always rewarding. I know how stressed most teachers are. Often, I wonder what I’m doing all this for, and why I should have to work almost every night. I suppose the consolation is that the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

“The Teaching Award should go to newcomers and those who support them in so many ways, with a joke or ideas for the classroom. What keeps me going is the pride of knowing I’m doing something worthwhile. In the meantime I’ll teach as best I can, making mistakes, tearing my hair out on occasions, and enjoying the laughter.”

Interview by Michael Duffy. The Teaching Awards 2002 national ceremony will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday, November 3. For further information and to register your nomination for 2003, visit www.teachingawards.com