Our gorgeous Ashleigh (Ash, Pash, Smash, Crashleigh – after an unfortunate incident with a parked car on a driving test…) works on our New Enquiries Team but is better known as YouTube sensation ‘Story Time with Miss Best‘ – check out her video at the bottom of the page! Ash knew she wanted to be a teacher when she was 11 years old. Straight out of school she went to Teacher’s College and studied Early Childhood Education and Deaf Studies. After 28 years in Wellington, NZ, she decided to pack up and move to London in April 2015 – where she herself in the unique and very special experience of staying at Kensington Palace for six weeks!
If you’re looking to Teach in London, our New Enquiries Manager, Cam, shares his top tips here!
Tell us about your story with Vibe
A friend from Teacher’s College worked in the office when I moved here, so heard about it from her. After two years of teaching Early Years in London I decided I wasn’t quite ready to go home, and felt ready to try my hand at something else so started in the office.
What do you love most about working with Vibe?
Working with colleagues who have become friends, getting out of my comfort zone and learning different skills, meeting and supporting teachers who are doing exactly what I did two and half years ago.
What’s the best thing about living in London?
There is always something fun, interesting and different to do…watching Sister Act accompanied by a live choir, going to see a play at The Globe, eating a Bleecker Burger (they will change your life), singing along to an orchestral rendition of Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album, strolling along the canals, going to a Fawtly Towers themed dinner, endless theatre shows, museums, galleries…the list is endless!
What’s your favourite area in London? Why?
I love Kensington! The restaurants, churches, museums and parks in the area are brilliant to visit – as are the op shops on Kensington High Street.
What’s your favourite pub in London?
The Churchill Arms in Notting Hill when it’s literally covered in flowers. It’s very cool and eclectic inside too.
What’s one of your best travel experiences?
At the risk of sounding completely nerdy..the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg was incredible. And Malta will always be special to me as it’s the first place I traveled to after I arrived in London.
Check out our travel tips blogs for more awesome trip suggestions!
What are your top tips for teachers in London?
Make an effort to make friends with your colleagues – it will make your teaching career all the more enjoyable if you enjoy who you work with. And don’t tell the kids to “put on your gumboots”…they will look at you sideways!
What/who are you most inspired by?
Ms Frizzle from The Magic School Bus and Miss Honey from Matilda. I like to thing I’m a combination of the two in my teaching practice!
What is your Yearbook Quote/quote that you live by?
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Keen to find out about daily supply, full-time or part-time roles? Get in touch here.