I’m Jenny, Library Assistant at Oakham School since June 2018 in this incarnation, but I’ve been at Oakham School since 2008, variously as a Library Assistant, Librarian and Physics Teacher (and have worked in schools since I began my career in 2001) – and I’m also Darryl’s wife. Having started my career as a Physics Teacher, chance and Darryl’s passion for school libraries drew me into libraries and led me to qualify as a librarian. However, having been back in Physics teaching for a while it was my own love of the library that drew me back following 4 years at home taking care of our son, Reuben, before he started primary school in September 2018.
The library occupies a unique position at the heart of the school, with the potential to be involved in every subject area at every level. It is a fascinating job – I sometimes don’t know when I walk in in the morning whether I will end my day working on Year 13 Politics or Year 6 French! I have found my niche within our team designing resources to support inquiry. Sometimes this is in direct relationship with the subject teachers, and sometimes our curriculum librarians lead the inquiry design and collaboration and tell me what resources they need. It is a hugely varied and challenging job – and I love it!
Outside school, raising our son has taught me so much about learning and motivation – the heart of inquiry is tapping into that curiosity that comes so naturally to a small child!