This time we sat down with Rachel Collin for a brew. Although Rachel’s choice of brew can depend on numerous factors, over this brew we had a lovely chat about her career and her love for all things festive!

[̨��swag.com] Hi Rachel, thanks for meeting with us! Please can you introduce yourself to the readers?

RC: “Hello! Well, thank you for asking me to get involved. It’s an honour to be the first interviewee! 

“I’m Rachel Collin and I teach Design and Technology at ̨��swag Academy Bydales in Redcar.”

And the big question.... Coffee or tea?

“When I am at home or work, I will always go for a milky tea with no sugar like blash my Dad says! May not be for everyone but I love it.

“If I am out, then I will cut loose a little more and go for a latte and over the festive period then you’ll inevitably find me drinking a gingerbread latte.”

Good choices! So when did you first join ̨��swag, and what were your initial thoughts?

“I can hardly believe it when I say this, but I actually started working at the academy in 2005 so 10 years before we became ̨��swag Academy Bydales.

“When I first started I set out with the intention to embrace everything and try new things to help the students achieve great things and above all I wanted to be open to trying new things.”

Since you started in 2005, and especially since the academy joined the ̨��swag Family in 2015, what has been the biggest change at the academy?

“This is an easy one to be honest; it’s the behaviour.

“The academy is now rated Outstanding by Ofsted, which is a fantastic achievement considering its predecessor was in special measures.

“Now when I am teaching a lesson, I am teaching students who want to learn and embrace it. The low level behaviour disturbances have dramatically reduced, which has enabled students to flourish.”

That sounds great! Leading on from this then, what would you say has been your favourite memory of your time at ̨��swag Academy Bydales?

“Another easy one! The favourite memory keeps changing every year when a fresh set of students gain good grades and achieve their potential.”

That sounds very rewarding! So from one ‘f’ to another, what’s been your funniest memory so far?

“Okay. So this is slightly embarrassing but it’s funny so I will share it.

“We were doing apple for the teacher in L and P and one pupil had nominated me for the health and safety queen as I was teaching about health and safety in the food room and, to be quite honest, it’s all I go on about. 

“However, on this day as I got up to accept the award I became a health and safety hazard when I knocked a full cup of tea over! 

“As you can imagine everyone laughed, well everyone except me! Fortunately though, the only downside was my embarrassment as no one was hurt so it was fine. Obviously I jumped to it and made sure it was all cleaned up as soon as possible, then continued to collect my award!”

Sounds like perfect timing there! So to finish, we have a standard last question to those we share a brew with. Which three people, dead or alive, would you invite to your dinner party?

“First would have to be Tina Turner. I am a huge fan of hers and absolutely love her songs. She is my absolute ideal dinner party guest!

“Second would be Father Christmas. I love Christmas and who else better to go-to to talk Christmas!

“Last it would be Channing Tatum because...well there’s no explanation needed really!”