Michael Mullaghan

My philosophy is that a balanced, exciting and child-led curriculum, delivered in a safe and secure environment, is essential for children’s skills, knowledge and love for learning to thrive. I am extremely committed and passionate about my role as a teacher. I believe that as a teacher, we have a moral duty to provide an inclusive and coherent curriculum that helps children and young people gain the knowledge, skills and attributes needed for life beyond school.

I believe that children learn best when they have a strong, positive relationship with the adult teaching them. Therefore, one of my key principles is building  meaningful relationships, embedded with mutual respect, with children and their families. Children need to feel safe, protected and secure in terms of their physical, social and emotional wellbeing, to be able to be successful learners and confident individuals. Developing these relationships can ensure children  grow up feeling loved, safe and respected so that they can realise their full potential.

I promote a fun, inclusive and interactive classroom setting, where all children can feel engaged in topics and where children are sufficiently inspired to learn. I like to believe that fun and laughter is always present in my classroom. From dressing up as a robot in computing lessons, to a times table rockstar in maths. I am never afraid to go the extra mile in the hope of exciting and engaging children in their learning. I feel it is incredibly important to ignite children’s excitement in their learning from an early age.  This empowers children and allows them to have control over their learning. It makes learning fun and can develop curiosity, independence and intrinsic motivation while also providing opportunities for personal achievement.

I have experience of using IT in the classroom as a device to support teaching and learning. During COVID, I planned and delivered live lessons of a high standard via zoom and this helped maintain levels of attainment during an incredibly difficult time. I always try to implement the use of technology through all areas of the curriculum as it can be  a great stimulus for learning. From using virtual manipulatives to explain concepts, online surveys for instant assessment and  interactive games to promote learning by playing. 

I am a huge advocate for providing children with valuable outdoor learning experiences. I have led forest school sessions across a number of year groups and have supported the development and implementation of the curriculum. I have taken part in training to support my delivery of a range of exciting outdoor lessons, such as building fires, creating shelters and outdoor cooking. 

I believe teamwork, communication and cooperation are key concepts for successful practice in all careers. I have always developed positive relationships with other teachers and assistants, as I believe that by working as a team we provide the best opportunities for all pupils in our care. It is vital to ensure that the team shares a shared goal and knowledge of how to achieve it. My experiences working within management positions  have allowed  me to improve my communication skills to ensure that I deliver clear and concise instructions that lead to effective change. 

I am a professional and determined individual who always tries to do his very best for each and every child. I have been recognised for my efforts and was asked to become a Middle Leader. The school has a lot of trust in my capabilities to confidently multitask and lead on responsibilities. This year alone, I have mentored a newly qualified teacher as well as coordinated a subject throughout school, while continuing to fulfil my class teacher duties. I have also acted as interim leader when senior members of staff have been absent. 

I would relish the opportunity to be involved in the wider school life and activities that a school offers, as this provides the perfect opportunity to develop stronger relationships with children, their families and the school community.  I am passionate about integrating my love of sports into my involvement in a school. I have experience of coaching and playing a range of sports at a good standard. I have loved my experiences within primary settings as it has given me the opportunity to support children to learn, grow and become the very best they can be in preparation for the next stage in their education. I look forward to my future endeavours and hope that I can become a valued part of a school community and show myself as a dedicated member of a team, inside and outside of the classroom.

From 01/09/2017 - 30/08/2018

Organisation: Coleraine Leisure Centre

Job Title: Lifeguard

Brief description of responsibilities, experience and knowledge gained:

My main role was to observe swimmers and reduce any possible hazards. I had to communicate with members of the public and deal with any issues they may have. I would also have to deliver first aid when required and remain calm in certain stressful situations. On occasions, I would support the delivery of swimming lessons for children between the ages of 4-8. This involved me working closely with the swimming coach to manage behaviour and support children’s early swimming techniques. 

Reason for leaving (if applicable): Returning to full time education.

From 25/05/2018 - 30/08/2018

Organisation: Waterworld

Job Title: Duty Supervisor

Brief description of responsibilities, experience and knowledge gained:

This role involved me overseeing and organising staff to ensure that day to day tasks were completed efficiently. Effective communication with customers and members of the public was required, to ensure their needs were met and that they had an enjoyable day within our facility. I regularly had to deal with customer queries and complaints in a considerate and understanding manner. An important duty within this role was training new staff within the team. I also had to ensure that I had a strong understanding of relevant health and safety policies within our facility to ensure the safety of the staff team and members of the public. At the end of each day, I had to handle cash and complete banking duties as well as securing the premises.
Reason for leaving (if applicable): End of seasonal work.

From 01/09/2018 (Current)

Organisation: Cramlington Village Primary School

Job Title: Class Teacher & Middle Leader

Brief description of responsibilities, experience and knowledge gained:

I have been in my current role as a class teacher for four years and have worked within a number of different year groups across KS2. I developed a strong understanding of the curriculum and consistently planned and delivered lessons judged to be at a good or better standard, with 25% of my observations being marked as outstanding by my current Head Teacher and other Senior Leaders. 

I promote an inclusive curriculum embedded with fun and engaging learning experiences  to support all learners within my classroom.  53% of children within the school are on the SEN register, with 64% of the children within my class requiring some form of SEN support, two of which have educational, health and care plans.  I always consider the structure, content and teaching approaches used within my lessons to ensure that I can effectively respond to the needs of all pupils within my class. 

I have a comprehensive understanding of assessment tools,  which I have used within my practice  to assess children’s understanding and support future planning and provision setting. This knowledge has allowed me to plan appropriate interventions effectively and has improved progress rates, especially this year.

Percentage of Year 6 class working at age related expectations or above:

Mathematics: Autumn 58%  - Summer  72% (+14%)

Reading: Autumn 62%  - Summer 72% (+10%)

Writing: Autumn 58% -  Summer 68% (+10%)

I coordinated PE throughout school by supporting staff with their delivery, organising resources, creating documents to support with assessment and planning Sports Day and family events. I have  set up and led extracurricular sport activities during and after school. I also supported the development and implementation of the Forest School curriculum. I took part in training to support my delivery of a range of exciting outdoor lessons, such as building fires, creating shelters and outdoor cooking. 

This academic year I was asked to become a Middle Leader within school. I was invited to be part of the SLT training programme to develop the vision for the school. I was appointed as the Oracy Coordinator in September 2020. This role involved raising the standards of oracy (communication and listening) across all year groups. I led staff with the planning and delivery of oracy based lessons, standardised high expectations throughout each year group and completed a staff survey, using the findings to improve oracy across the curriculum.  

I was assigned to mentor a newly qualified Early Career Teacher within school, working closely with them to develop their practice. This involved weekly meetings and observations of the ECT as well as a number of coaching sessions to refine their delivery.  I was recognised for my continuous effort and outstanding support to teaching and learning across school this year with a salary increment.
 

Reason for leaving: Relocating to Scotland

Dates: September 2013 -  May 2016

Qualification: Bachelor of Arts

Subject and Result: Early Childhood Studies - Second Class Honours (2:1)

University/College: Teesside University

Dates: September 2017 - May 2018

Qualification: Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

Subject and Result:  Primary Education - Pass

University/College: Sunderland University