Grace Bareham is our Alumna of the month for September.
Grace left WHS in 2018 and went on to study Primary Education (5–11) BA (Hons) at York St. John University.
While at WHS, Grace particularly enjoyed Health and Social Care, where she developed a strong interest in children’s development. Combined with her A Level in English Language, this gave her a solid foundation in child development—something that has greatly supported her journey into teaching. One of her fondest memories from WHS was her A Level Drama lessons with Ms Hindley, which she remembers as being full of fun and laughter.
Following university, Grace gained valuable experience working in rural primary schools on a supply basis. Two and a half years ago, she secured her first full-time teaching position at a primary school in Carlisle. Over the past year, she has successfully completed her Early Career Teacher (ECT) qualification and is now a Year 1 teacher. In addition to her classroom role, Grace is also the History Subject Lead and the union representative at her school.
Teaching is more than a job for Grace—it’s her passion. She chose this path to make a meaningful difference in children’s lives and to help nurture and guide them to become both successful and respectful individuals.
Grace’s message to current students is filled with encouragement: “All your hard work will pay off in the future. I personally found exams challenging, but I’ve learned that they don’t define your ability. What truly matters is your attitude, effort, and resilience—that’s what shapes your success.”
