Bronagh Farrimond
Christian Brothers Secondary School
www.cbsglenroad.com
Subject: Vice Principal/French.
Age: Over 21.
Your place of birth: Belfast.
Where You Live: Belfast.
First Job: Saturday Sales assistant in Littlewoods.
What it taught me: Forming good relationships make the working life much easier.
Family/status: Married.
Best advice anyone ever gave you: If you are lucky, you will be working for many years so choose a career that you love.
Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: Be prepared to diversify. The subjects that you studied at university may not be on the curriculum in 10 years time, so take advantage of any professional development opportunity that is offered to you.
The second of five children, Bronagh was brought up in St. James’ Place in a home filled with constant activity. She attended St Kevin’s Primary school and in Primary 6, she was presented with a French phrase book. That was when her love for the French Language began to develop. By the time she arrived in St. Louise’s, as a first year pupil, she could already hold a basic conversation with the Language assistant. “So, it was no surprise to my friends and family that I went on to study French at university,” she recalls.
After completing her PGCE, she returned to St Louise’s where she taught French and Religion for two years. “Moving to CBS was the best decision I ever made, both professionally and personally,” she says. “Before becoming Vice-Principal I was head of a very successful department, producing results that repeatedly exceeded those of the National average. As Vice-Principal I have assisted in transforming CBS by creating a curriculum that combines the academic and vocational. I manage a team of teachers who are committed to ensuring the success and happiness of every pupil. On a personal note, it was also in CBS that I met my husband Jim.”
