Teacher has the right formula (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon teacher has the right formula

7:00am Thursday 7th July 2011 in Croydon Champions News By Amy Dyduch

A popular maths teacher who encourages her students to take an active interest in the subject has been nominated as teacher of the year.

Jennifer Davenport, 24, said she was shocked but very pleased to be nominated for a Champions award after less than a year of teaching at Archbishop Tension’s High School in Croydon.

Student Jonathan Banton nominated Miss Davenport for the award because of her popularity and positive attitude to teaching.

He wrote on the nomination form: “She has become popular among students in the school by being the teacher with the best level of engagement and friendliness.”

He stressed the maths teacher was popular even with students she did not teach at the Church of England school.

Miss Davenport, who completed a maths degree at Warwick University, said she enjoyed challenging the students misconceptions about maths.

She said: “It’s seen a boring and dry subject, but I like to change their opinions and show them that given the right activities it can be very interesting.”

She said she was inspired to enter the profession after having some very good teachers herself and she went on to complete a PGCE at King’s College London.

The teacher said she had always worked with children and enjoyed it.

Teacher of the year is one of 10 catergories in the Croydon Champions awards in which the nominees will be short-listed and invited to a ceremony at the end of the year.