A Conversation With... Mr George Bosomworth

In the final instalment of 'A Conversation With...' before the half-term break, we sit down and chat with the History Department's newest addition - Mr George Bosomworth. Mr Bosomworth joined us at the start of the academic year and in this feature, we find out about his motivations for teaching and also why he believes history is an important subject to learn about.

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

I have been at Shiplake since September, and I am primarily a history teacher. I am also a Year 9 tutor in Skipwith House, and I run handball/dodgeball sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for pupils in Years 11-13. I also help with Year 10 cookery on Thursdays (and I am impressed that we haven’t burned Welsh House down yet!). 

What were you doing before working at Shiplake?  

Before I started at Shiplake, I was completing my teacher training down in Kent. I worked in two schools during the year, and both were very different. It was a great experience and very fun, but also a lot of hard work.   

What is a day in the life like for Mr Bosomworth at Shiplake?  

One of the best things about being a teacher is that no day is ever the same, but I typically arrive at 7.00-7.30am to make sure that I am all set for the day. I then teach a range of lessons throughout the day which I always enjoy. Some days I then have handball/dodgeball or cookery. I typically leave the College at around 5.30pm as I want to try and get any work done before I leave.   

You're one of the newest members of staff here; how have you settled in at the College?  

I think that I have settled into life at the College well. Everyone is very kind and always ready to help me out when I’m lost, which is quite often! Shiplake is different really to any other school with its sense of community and lots of different activities always going on. So, while it takes some getting used to, I am loving it here.  

What inspired you to pursue a career in teaching and education?  

I know it is a cliché, but my main inspiration was probably the teachers from my old school. They helped me through some stressful times and also massively shaped my interests. I thought that was an amazing thing and so that was something that I wanted to do myself.   

Why is it important to study history and do you have a favourite period of time to teach/learn about?  

Understanding history is vital to understanding our society today so that we can make improvements where we need. I have always preferred more modern history so that’s looking at the World Wars and other events in the twentieth century. These events are what have really shaped the world we live in today, and a lot of the issues that the people from these times dealt with are the same issues that we often face today.  

What does Mr Bosomworth do in his spare time?  

I love to travel when I have the chance. I often spend a lot of time going into London or down to the coast. In the summer, I had the opportunity to go to Buenos Aires which was really fun and a great experience. Argentina has amazing food and an interesting history and culture. 

What does the future hold for Mr Bosomworth?  

I am hoping to stay at Shiplake for as long as I can, and I would like to get more involved in the many other co-curricular activities on offer, as well as keep improving as a teacher.