A Conversation With... Miss Sioned Russell

In this week's 'A Conversation With...', we chat to Miss Sioned Russell of the History Department. However, it is not just history that Miss Russell has a passion for as she is also very much involved with our outdoor education provision and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions! 

What is your role and how long have you been at Shiplake? 

I have been with the school teaching history since September 2022. 

What were you doing before Shiplake? 

I worked as a history teacher in a state school and before that, I worked with young people with an autism spectrum diagnosis within a specialist residential setting. 

What inspired you to pursue a career in education? 

During my university summers, I worked as a bushcraft instructor running residential camps. Apart from the joys of living in some amazing woodlands, seeing young people develop in their confidence and develop friendships with their peers was an amazing part of the job that we got to be involved in. However, the short-term nature of the camps (we would only be with students for a few days and then we would be working with a different group) meant that you would rarely get to see young people develop over a longer period of time. That aspect of teaching, namely working with young people over multiple years, alongside a passion for history, is what interested me about teaching within a school setting.  

What is a day in the life like for Miss Russell? 

In the classroom, my day involves analysing historical interpretations, judging the value of sources, and teaching how to develop and put forward effective arguments.  

Outside the classroom, I am involved with the school's outdoor education programme which includes teaching bushcraft skills such as fire making and shelter building, running kayaking sessions, and supervising groups on their Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. 

What do you do in your spare time? 

My weekends and holidays usually involve a mixture of going to church and getting outside on some adventures. Whether it is going trail running in the Chilterns, kayaking on the Thames, or hiking a mountain, if its outside and a bit of a challenge, I’ll probably be up for it! 

If the weather is less favourable, you will probably find me reading a historical fiction or watching a comedy movie. 

What does the future hold for Miss Russell? 

Shiplake has been great so far, so I’ll certainly be here for a while yet. 

In the immediate future, in October I’ll be running a half marathon so if you see me walking a bit more slowly over the coming few weeks you’ll know why.