“St Chris really aligns with my values—not just as a teacher, but as a person."
This is Amy Anderson's story.
Amy's career began in Winchester, in particular at The University of Winchester where she studied her undergraduate degree. However, it wasn't all prose, poetry, and drama.
Through studying Drama and English Literature, Amy discovered her love for working with people through leading drama therapy sessions. Amy reflects on a pivotal moment during university - her involvement in a prison project, where she helped to deliver sessions and co-directed Oh, What a Lovely War with inmates. This unique experience, she says, taught her about resilience and the importance of empathy. “It made me look at prisons and people differently. People are people, and everyone makes mistakes,” Amy mentions.
Getting into Teaching
Amy’s career in education began when she returned to the school where she was once a student. In this role, she wore many hats after taking on some voluntary work—from art technician to teaching assistant—before pursuing teacher training through a Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP). Specializing in English, Amy found her true passion lay in literature. Over the years, Amy took on roles with increasing responsibility, eventually joining the senior leadership team at Samuel Whitbread Academy. However, after ten years she sought new challenges.
Drawn by the school’s ethos and its commitment to individuality and student happiness, Amy joined as Head of English. She admits she'd heard a lot of the school prior to applying from ex-students, staff, and connections. Since starting at St Chris, Amy has been inspired by the joy and engagement she sees in her students.
“Something I love about the students here is that they genuinely seem happy to be at school. That’s a bit of a novelty, and it’s wonderful to see.”
This has extended to Amy's company group, which she has recently taken under her wing, and is thoroughly enjoying having!
Strength and Resilience, In and Out of the Classroom
Outside of teaching, Amy’s interests are just as vibrant. A CrossFit enthusiast and competitive weightlifter, she exemplifies strength and determination, even overcoming a significant knee injury through disciplined rehabilitation. “Strength is so important,” she says, healing from a major leg injury and narrowly avoiding surgery thanks to her strength.
It's delightful to share that Amy and her husband are also training to become foster carers, driven by a desire to support children who need stability and care. “Older children are often the ones who need security the most,” she explains. “If we can offer that, even for a short time, we want to make a difference.”
Looking Ahead
At St Chris, Amy is excited about shaping the future of literacy education and continuing her professional development, including pursuing a Master’s in Senior Leadership. “No matter what level you’re at—teacher, middle leader, or senior leader—it’s all about the students. If I can learn more to make their education better, that’s my aim.”
We’re thrilled to have Amy as part of the St Chris community. Her dedication to education, love for literature, and belief in the power of individuality make her an incredible leader and role model for our students.