Saffron Sparks’s experience of school inspired her to pursue a career in education.
Life took her on a different journey before she found her way back to the classroom on our Teacher Training programme which she completed in 2025. Now a teacher at Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy she’s found a way to follow her passion for teaching as a parent whilst building a new community for herself.
Teaching: a constant ambition
“I always thought I was going to be a teacher. I didn't have the easiest time at school, I wasn't the best behaved. But my teachers were there for me and helped push me on. They took an interest in me as a person. They took an interest in my life and wanted to know how I was and they checked in on me regularly. It was the impact those teachers had on me that made me realise that’s what I wanted to do.”
Saffron started her degree and planned to become a geography teacher, but life went in a different direction. “In the middle of my third year at university, I was unexpectedly pregnant with my little boy. Once he’d grown up a bit, I thought about going back to my original plan to teach, when I discovered I was pregnant with my little girl.”
“I bounced through lots of different careers and I wasn't finding fulfilment in them, even though I was working my way up the ladders quickly. I knew I had to get back into my plan of what I wanted to do, which was teaching. I decided I’d put it off long enough. I found this programme, and the rest is history.”
Finding the right route into teaching
Although she received offers for different programmes, Saffron knew she wanted to train with Ambition as soon as she did her interview with our local partner St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi-Academy Trust.
“It's all about finding the right fit for you. When I had my interview here, they gave me information on what I would be doing on the programme. That massively helped me with planning how I was going to arrange childcare.
“As a mother, I need to know upfront what’s expected, not just what time I will be in school but other responsibilities that might eat into my time – like assignments. Some places where I interviewed didn’t have the same flexibility or information available, so I knew I wanted to go with Ambition.”
Teaching pupils about the world around them
Now a qualified teacher working in the school she trained in, Saffron can see the impact she’s having on her pupils year on year. “I’m teaching my Year 10 class, who I had as Year 9s last year when I was training. They’ll bring up lessons we had together last year and things they found funny in those classes. I can see that I’m helping them build on that knowledge from last year. It’s really nice to see the impact across the years and see what’s working.”
As a geography teacher, Saffron gets to share her passion with the next generation. “I love the fact that it’s teaching children about the world around them. I was one of those kids that didn’t really go anywhere as a child but geography was a way to escape, it was like I could see different places and learn about different cultures.”
“I used to think I was quite introverted but now that I’m teaching I find myself being over the top because I want to share my passion.”
Building a community in school
“It’s just been the end of term and I’ve had pupils running up to me to tell me they’re going to miss me over the holiday. It’s a really nice feeling and makes me think I’ve actually had an impact on them.”
“I feel like I’ve got this extended family. As I’m not from around here, that felt like something else I had to overcome, not knowing anyone. But the support I’ve been given by literally everyone at this school and on the programme has massively helped. I’ve been able to build those connections with all these people and find my place.”