Tim Ng
Flexibility is key to success with maths, says Tim Ng, a highly experienced maths teacher who taught in his native Hong Kong for 20 years. “People often think about maths as just being number skills, but it’s not just about the numbers. The most important thing is learning how to solve problems, step-by-step. It’s what this school is good at, helping each child to find their level and to give it a go.
“When a child has a go and successfully finishes a task, they’re really happy with having achieved something. It’s about helping them to achieve and, in class, we have a LSA to assist lots too,” says Tim, who describes the school and his colleagues as very nice and welcoming, as he arrived from Hong Kong to work in England for the first time.
“Education in Hong Kong is very competitive, which is not healthy,” says Tim, who is far happier with an approach that better supports the individual. And he’s extra pleased to say how well his students are helping him too, gently correcting his pronunciation, when he occasionally gets things wrong.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing the change in the students, from children who arrive having experienced a lot of trauma, to becoming confident and bright students in just a few months.”
“I like that they support me too,” says Tim, who also loves joining in with the football at lunchtimes, a game he used to play at home in Hong Kong. He’s also a big fan of the school meals, which he describes as “excellent”.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing the change in the students, from children who arrive having experienced a lot of trauma, to becoming confident and bright students in just a few months. The same goes for those who might not have attended school for two or even three years. They arrive here and you can quickly see the change in them,” says Tim, who also organises the ICT club.
From helping the students make friends within his tutor group, to keeping parents in touch with how their children are doing at school, though the school’s weekly report, Tim has settled into life at LVS Hassocks extremely well and is fully focused on bringing his love of maths to every pupil.