Head boy returns to his Doncaster school four years after he left - and now he's a teacher

Vinny Della-Verde, aged 21, was a pupil at Outwood Academy Adwick, based on Windmill Balk Lane in Woodlands until he left to go to university in 2017.

Vinny has since graduated from Sheffield Hallam with a degree in Sports Studies – and has found himself back at Adwick on the other side of the classroom!

He is now training to become a PE teacher with Teach North, a teacher training programme led out of the Outwood Institute of Education.

Vinny said: “It was really strange walking through the doors for the first time as a part of the staff. It brought back so many memories of my time there as a student, it was quite emotional to be honest.

“I really enjoyed my time as a student at Outwood Academy Adwick and in a way I do think that positive experience helped shape my desire to become a teacher. It would be nice to help give students the same, good experience I had while I was a student.”

In addition to being a student, Vinny was also the head boy of the school during his final year there and there’s even a photo of him on one of the displays much to the amusement of himself and other staff members.

Vinny added: “It was quite surreal when I saw myself on one of the displays. I am sure it will make a few of the students laugh, if they even recognise me from it!

“Obviously, When I started training to teach, in no way did I expect to find myself back at Adwick but I am glad I have and I am excited to learn more about teaching and develop myself as I aim to become a teacher.”

Andy Scruby, principal at Outwood Academy Adwick, said: “We work closely with Teach North to give trainee teachers invaluable in-school experience and we were more than happy to welcome Vinny back to the academy. It is clear he really enjoyed his time here as a student and hopefully he can have a positive impact on the students during his time with us.”

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