Turning Passion into Impact: Sinead’s Story

For Sinead Harper, teaching was always more than just a job—it was a calling. Inspired by the incredible teachers she had as a child, she knew from an early age that she wanted to follow in their footsteps. Even as a young girl, she would play “schools” with her friends, unknowingly laying the foundations for the career she would one day love.

After completing her A-levels, Sinead trained as a Nursery Nurse. But the pull towards primary education never left her. When the time came to take the leap into teacher training, she embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, ready to dedicate herself to shaping young lives.

Starting her first teaching role was both exciting and nerve-wracking. Suddenly, she was responsible for making sure her pupils received the best possible education. “I was adamant they would have their best year in school,” she reflects. That determination, combined with her passion for teaching, fuelled her journey from classroom teacher to school leader and beyond.

"It’s hard work, but so rewarding.”
– Sinead Harper, Deputy Director of Education at REAch2 Academy Trust

Like many new teachers, Sinead faced challenges in her early years—time management being the biggest. Without a teaching assistant or the benefit of planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time, she had to learn quickly how to balance planning, marking, and creating resources without letting it consume every weekend. It was a steep learning curve, but one that gave her the resilience and skills to thrive in the profession

Her career has since been filled with achievements that she looks back on with pride. As a headteacher, she spearheaded an enhanced provision for children at risk of permanent exclusion. With limited support available locally, she and her leadership team created a dedicated setting that transformed the educational experience of vulnerable pupils, helping them re-engage with learning and prepare positively for secondary school.

Leadership became a natural next step. “I wanted to have more of an impact across a larger number of pupils, not just those in my class,” she explains. The opportunity to work across all phases of education, while shaping the direction of schools, was something she embraced wholeheartedly.

Today, as Deputy Director of Education, Sinead reflects on her journey with honesty and encouragement. Teaching, she admits, is hard work—but it is also one of the most rewarding careers anyone could choose. The joy of seeing children grow in confidence, achieve things they never thought possible, and leave school with the belief that they can succeed, is what makes every challenge worthwhile.