Grace Stevenson

Wellington College Belfast 

Subject or Primary School Year: English/English Literature

Place of Birth: Newry

Where you studied: Queen's University Belfast

What was your first job? Chip shop – chef/server

What did your first job teach you?  Time keeping skills/customer service skills. I was 13-years-old when I started this job and learned the importance of being polite and courteous with the public. I also learned practical skills, such as preparing salad, frying fish, chips, etc. The ability to work alongside others in a positive and productive manner was also essential to the smooth running of the service. 

Family/Status: Single.

Best advice you would give to someone thinking of a teaching career:  Do it if you're passionate about helping young people.

As the daughter of a dairy farmer and community mid-wife, the importance of a diligent and conscientious work ethic was instilled in Grace from a very early age. Her best friend from her early years is deaf and her cousin has spina bifida. She believes that growing up alongside children with profound disabilities has given her a heart and passion to help young people from all backgrounds and ensure lessons are adapted to meet the needs of pupils with SEN. She has worked in comprehensive, secondary and grammar schools and believes that all young people should be taught to aspire and achieve their full potentials and beyond.

Grace has extensive experience teaching in her previous school Ballyclare Secondary School as SENCO and now in Wellington College as Head of English. She has a great passion for teaching English at KS3 and particularly loves Medieval Literature. Grace also endeavors to provide opportunities for pupils beyond the classroom and organises annual public speaking competitions in school where they regularly compete in competitions held at Stormont and beyond. One of her most beloved memories is seeing a young person with a diagnosis of dyslexia win The Edgar Graham Memorial competition at Stormont.