In this week's 'A Conversation With... ' we talked to computing teacher, Miss Anita Bhatti. Miss Bhatti joined us in the autumn term last year after teaching in the Falkland Islands for three years. She came to teaching after working for various big organisations and hasn't looked back!
What is your role at Shiplake and how long have you been here?
My role here at Shiplake is as a computing and iMedia teacher. I have been here since the beginning of November 2021.
Where were you previously?
My previous position was at The Falkland Islands Community School, some 8,000 miles away from Shiplake. I was there for three years and enjoyed every minute of it. The landscape is incredible as are the people who work there and call it their home.
What is the best thing about Shiplake?
The community of students and teachers are the best. I remember my first day being rather lost looking for reception when a student greeted me and asked if I needed any assistance. His manner was charming, calming and I instantly felt at ease. I only found out his name a few months ago and thanked him properly. It's so nice being greeted on a daily basis, it puts you in a good mood and sets you up for the day.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
My immediate family and extended family are all teachers. So at first I rebelled and even though I got my teaching degree in 2006 I didn't properly become a full-time teacher until about 2013. I've worked in industry for the likes of The British Library, Deloitte, Cisco, and the NHS to name a few, but always volunteered in secondary schools over the years as I knew that the jobs that I was doing didn't quite fulfil me. That was until 2013 when I was working in a school and suddenly just got really stuck into it all, the teaching side as well as the administrative side of planning and resource preparation and haven't looked back since.
When did your passion for computing begin and what do you love most about it?
My passion for computing came a little later as my PGCE degree is in Applied (Applications) IT, but as the curriculum in schools was changing to computing I knew that the only way to keep in touch was to train in that field and so I attended university courses and carried out online computer based training.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love reading about military history, walking (far but not fast), going to the cinema, bowling, playing badminton and football (Arsenal are my team), eating out and shopping.
What does the future hold for Miss Bhatti?
I would like to work at Shiplake until I retire and then live in The Falkland Islands.
