Aston School

My friend Barbara from the heady days of investment banking invited me come to her primary school in the village of Aston near Stevenage and give a talk on India (and St Mary’s School in Singla) and I loved the school so much I hung around and joined in whenever I could, starting as a teaching assistant.

Teaching Assistant

As a volunteer teaching assistant, you learn how to make tea for the teaching staff (skimmed milk not too strong; Earl Grey back; sweeteners not sugar etc.).

You also have to make sure you keep them supplied with interesting snacks throughout the day. I decided to get qualified as a Teaching Assistant and for the first time in 40 years was assessed officially for my competence and suitability; I even gained a diploma! 

This meant I could operate the photocopier and laminating machine unsupervised………