This is Joseph Griffiths. He is a teacher of Exercise and Sport Sciences and a Learning Coach at NewVIc.

Joseph carried out unpaid experience in the classroom working across a range of communities, international and independent school environments and in both primary, secondary and further education institutions before becoming a full-time teacher.

Find out why the avid runner, who has already ran one hundred half marathons in one year to raise money for the UN Refugee Agency, likes to make sure his classrooms are more relevant to the real world for students at NewVIc.

On work-life:

“I advocate a 'trial and error' approach to new styles of teaching in a bid to make classrooms more relevant to the real world.”

“When I am in the classroom and things are going well there is simply nothing like it. I enjoy getting to know my students. There are specifications, which need to be taught, and assessments that need to be done, but there should always be time to be led off course by a student’s question, or to tell an anecdote, which brings a theoretical point to life.

It’s hard but important to keep a sense of perspective. I advocate a 'trial and error' approach to new styles of teaching in a bid to make classrooms more relevant to the real world.

I recently taught about ergogenic aids and climate change. I administered and provided orange juice, salt and water and asked my students to create a hypertonic, isotonic and hypotonic solution. The students were able to compare their homemade solutions to popular consumer products, one of which was Coca-Cola.

Thereafter, the students participated in a positive and meaningful discourse on Coca Cola’s plastic bottle problem and sustainable solutions.

I am involved in several cross-college initiatives, most recently, the NewVIc Honours Programme. I was delighted to support Carina Ancell (Honours Programme Manager) to help provide specialist guidance, a tailored extra-curriculum and enrichment opportunities to support student progression to the UK’s leading universities. Every student deserves to have equal opportunity.

My genuine love of sport has led me to play cricket and squash for a number of years. I am also a member of Hampstead Triathlon Club. Last year, I successfully raised more than £1500 for the UN Refugee Agency by running one hundred half marathons in one year. I am currently training for Ironman Wales in September 2023!”

On the most inspiring person you have met:

“At first, I couldn’t come up with a concrete response but when I started to reflect on my past, the answer was right in front of me, my two older sisters. My sisters have always been my role models and biggest inspiration. My sisters are exceptionally hard working, assiduous and kind-hearted.

This at times has annoyed me, particularly when I was younger, but the older I have grown, the more I have come to admire their determination and ambition.”

 

On your teaching career:

“Since graduating with First Class Honours from Bournemouth University, I sought to obtain unpaid experience in the classroom working across a range of community, international and independent school environments and in both primary, secondary and further education institutions.

This led me to study my PGCE at the University of Exeter to interpret my own specialist subject knowledge and pedagogy and gain confidence in teaching students with a diverse range of needs. I was delighted to be offered my first teaching job at NewVIc - the rest, as they say, is history.

On top of everything else, my commitment to bring a global and social justice perspective to education led me to study my master’s degree in Development Education and Global Learning at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society.

My research dissertation critically examined global citizenship education to address global issues, including migration and refugees, with a socio-demographically diverse group of students in a low-income setting in Newham, East London. I believe students learn best through actively participating in learning to develop their own subject content knowledge.”

On student progression:

“Every student deserves to have an equal opportunity"

“I champion improving student opportunities beyond their current level of study. Last year, I took responsibility to organise the inaugural Curriculum Enhancement Through University Partnership day with the University of East London.

The students gained valuable experience of higher education, experienced university facilities and consolidated prior knowledge and understanding. In addition, I set in motion the Future Me, Future Youth event with the London Legacy Development Corporation.

The students were invited to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to work out solutions to socio-cultural factors that influence people’s involvement in physical activity and sport and set forth predictions on how the Park will look in the future. I also organised a performance testing and nutrition workshop with the Human Performance Unit from the University of Essex.

Most importantly, the knowledge, which I pass on, I get to influence the next generation. There can be no greater privilege than a student thanking you and the student really meaning it, or gets the exam grade they worked towards.

Many of our students go to university to study sought-after courses including exercise and sport sciences, nutrition, physiotherapy and psychology. Our students have also had great success in the very best of England’s apprenticeship employers, including Transport for London.”

Meet more of our experts at: newvic.ac.uk/meet-our-expert