Mr Ogada

Josiah joined The Bulmershe School's Maths Department in 2008. As well as teaching maths, Josiah runs the school's Diversity lead and runs our Better Together programme.

What set you on the path to teaching?

I believe education is a gift and a privilege that every child should be entitled to have access to, no matter where they are from. Unfortunately, this was not a priviledge that was afforded to me as a child growing up in Kenya. So, from a young age, I was attracted to teaching as I believed that, as a teacher, I would be able to make a change and make learning accessible to every child. I believe that all children matter, irrespective of their race, origin, gender and religion, and given the opportunity to learn, every child would succeed.

What was it that attracted you to working at the Bulmershe School?

I have always lived within the school community. Back in 2008, what I found appealing and had a lot of respect and admiration for was the school’s reputation, accomplishments and contributions within the community. I was also attracted by The Bulmershe's mission and values and its dedication to its educational philosophy where “all children matter”. As this philosphy matched my own, it led me to want to join the school and be able to contribute to making a positive impact on students’ lives while fostering positive changes and nurturing future generations.

What does it mean to you to be our Diversity Lead?

I think that those who work in diversity roles are good people, and by that I mean you have to be intensely empathetic, compassionate, intuitive, just, human, brave and vulnerable. My work is meaningful, testing and challenging, and I adore every impact it has.

What do I love most? It’s about steady, meaningful change. It encourages people to confidently speak their truth(s), belong, be seen and be heard. It’s about kindness and respecting difference. It brings out the best in people – and that’s the core of what we need for sustainable workplaces, better education and ultimately, good people.

What, in your opinion, is the key to a successful education?

It is not a secret that for many students, school is not a place where they go with pleasure! However, these problems can be solved to a certain extent if focus and attention to developing an atmosphere of acceptance, trust and comfort is prioritised at school. It is therefore crucial to make students feel like they are welcome in school, can trust teachers, and they can ask for help if they need it.

School plays an important role in the process of socialisation, so for students, it is crucial to have the ability to find support in this process and be directed if they do not know which direction they should choose.

New technologies also play a role in educational success, as they will encourage an interest in the learning process and, when integrated into the class activities, children will engage with lessons with great enthusiasm.