Who would you most like to meet from history?
Katherine of Aragon.

What historical time or place would you like to visit?
A ball at the Russian court of the early C20th Tsar.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in teaching history?
American university students I was teaching who were great!

If you hadn’t got into teaching history, what would you be doing now?
Earning more money.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:
Don’t shop with your husband.

What’s your favourite historical movie and TV series and why?
The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen, based on the books by Phillipa Gregory.

What event in history would you like to know more about?
The life of Christ.

What teacher had the most influence/impact on you at school and why?
My history teacher, who encouraged me to study the subject and to try for Cambridge.

Describe your subject in emojis

😍😍😍

Tormead is, to you, in three words:
Making history fun!

Who would you most like to meet from history?
Churchill, Lawrence of Arabia, Joan of Arc, Gandhi

What historical time or place would you like to visit?
I think VE day would have been an incredible party. I’d also like to see France, 1789 –  a different kind of party.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in teaching history?
When my Dad exclaimed: “What are you going to do with a history degree? Become a history teacher?!” In my best teenage spirit I offered a sullen “No!” I clearly showed him… 

If you hadn’t got into teaching history, what would you be doing now?
I’d love to be a tour guide.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:
Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.

What’s your favourite historical movie and TV series and why?
It’s kind of historical these days… I am currently enjoying The West Wing. The writing is excellent.

What event in history would you like to know more about?
If I had time, I’d like to do more research into Environmental History & the impact of the British Empire. Not a specific event but an epoch of chaos.

What teacher had the most influence/impact on you at school and why?
Mrs Lewis was Assistant Head, history Teacher and PSHE teacher.  She was excellent at drawing maps that looked nothing like the real world but made perfect sense to me. 

Tormead is, to you, in three words:
Past, Present, Future

Who would you most like to meet from history?
Elizabeth I

What historical time or place would you like to visit?
The Palace of Versailles during Louis XIV’s reign.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in teaching history?
My love of teaching was fostered in the gymnasium, through volunteering as a gymnastics coach at age 13. This fondness for teaching gradually grew into my favourite subject at school: history. My history teacher, Miss Lyons, had a significant impact on my career choice. Her plethora of knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject encouraged my love for history. 

If you hadn’t got into teaching history, what would you be doing now?
Most likely a grad-scheme in the city.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:
Everything is always better in the morning.

What’s your favourite historical movie and TV series and why?
Victoria on BBC. It has an amazing theme tune and fantastic acting.

What event in history would you like to know more about?
The French Revolution

What teacher had the most influence/impact on you at school and why?
Miss Lyons for her over-enthusiasm for the Cold War

Describe your subject in emojis

😍📚👑

Tormead is, to you, in three words:
Exciting, supportive, fun 

Who would you most like to meet from history?
Is it too obvious an answer to say Hitler? Firstly, to see if he really was as compelling as his contemporaries say but also, of course, to try and change his ways! 

What historical time or place would you like to visit?
A Tudor court would have to be high on my list, or Louis XIV’s Palais de Versailles.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in teaching history?
History is the ultimate study of people. It is psychology, anthropology, politics, law all from the past. It helps us to keep the current world around us in perspective and appreciate it. 

If you hadn’t got into teaching history, what would you be doing now?
Lobbying the government about sustainability and ceasing animal exploitation. I never thought I would be a teacher as both my parents were teachers; my father was a Headteacher and my mother a SENDCo. But, when, at the age of 7, I was asking my teachers if someone in my class needed some extra learning support, I think my career path was sealed, even if I didn’t know it then. Just to be clear, five years later the child did receive the support he needed.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:
Communication is everything.

What’s your favourite historical movie and TV series and why?
There are so many! Movie-wise, Downfall was astonishing and I still recall the haunting scene where Magda Goebbels shows she believes life without the Nazis is not life for her children. That said, The Colour Purple, is a must-see too. For TV series, I recommend The Last Kingdom (series 1-3) or BBC’s 2016 mini-series of War and Peace. 

What event in history would you like to know more about?
All of them!

What teacher had the most influence/impact on you at school and why?
My history teacher when I took my GCSEs was interesting. She literally put my classmates into the rubbish bin if they didn’t bring completed homework to the lessons. Don’t worry – I have no aspirations to be like her! My father also taught me a lot. He is a fantastic practitioner who showed me so much about how logical methods are often the best.  

Describe your subject in emojis

😍🤯😳

Tormead is, to you, in three words:
Best SIXTH ever!