Jane Chesworth

UK
Food technology and childcare teacher

Jane has been in New Zealand for only a few months but already feels at ease in her Papakura High School classroom.

“It probably helps to be a food technology and childcare teacher as the teaching content is basically the same as in England.  In food technology, the only difference I’ve noticed is with some of the ingredients and recipes but the students are only too willing to help out with explanations.  In fact they love telling me what to cook! ”

Both the food technology and childcare curriculums are unit standards based. Jane feels this form of assessment can be harsh on those students who don’t complete a unit standard as they don’t get any recognition for their work unless it’s completed.  “It’s a shame because many of them have a lot of ability.”

Jane’s taste for teaching food technology and child care occurred while relief teaching in England to support her study.  She has completed a variety of qualifications from a Childcare Diploma, to a BA (Hons) degree in education.

Jane finds New Zealand students really friendly.  “Even the difficult students are so much warmer than challenging students in England.  I find it heartening that they want to know you as a person not just someone who’s doing a job for them. “

The support from other staff members is fantastic, according to Jane.  “Many of the staff are from overseas so they understand the support you need particularly at the beginning.”

Why choose New Zealand as a place to teach? New Zealand’s clean, green image came to the fore when Jane started researching other countries to settle in with her two teenage daughters.  “Originally the climate, beautiful countryside and green issues were the major factors in our decision making and the three of us all agreed that New Zealand was the place to come.  Now that I’m here, I’ve never been so popular in all my life with people back in the UK.  I’ve got a constant stream of UK visitors from December to April.”

Outside of school Jane finds New Zealanders friendly wherever she goes. “Even in the bank they try to keep me talking to listen to, or guess, my accent.  It’s fantastic that people are so genuinely interested in why we are here.”

From a pay point of view, it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Jane.  “Complete all your paperwork before you come here otherwise you may have too many surprises.  The outcome of my qualifications assessment is that my salary is lower than I expected it to be. “