Secondary teacher Helen Turney believes that experienced teachers play a crucial role in the success of any school.

Helen has been teaching ICT and business studies for 14 years and works at Huntcliff School, Lincolnshire.

She believes that older teachers can offer vital support to their younger colleagues during the early years of their career.

“If a young teacher comes to watch you in the classroom they might feel you make it look really easy, but it’s not,” says Helen.

“It could just be that with more experience you’re more relaxed, because there’s nothing you haven’t seen.

“We’re able to help younger teachers through the pitfalls - when something goes wrong and they think it’s a complete disaster.

“As an experienced teacher, you can help them to put things into context.”

Helen, 52, went to university and trained to be a teacher while her children were still at school.

Her advice to any newly qualified teacher would be to try to strike a balance between their work and home lives.

“At my first school I had a fantastic head of faculty,” says Helen. “I was working until 6pm every night after school, but she wouldn’t let me take any work home.

“She would say ‘That’s enough. The rest of the time is for you and your family’.

“I have continued to keep that work-life balance for myself, because no one else will give it to me. It’s not always easy, but I do it.”

Helen has been a member the NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union throughout her career and she is a Workplace Representative at her school.

She has found the Union’s advice and information helpful when it comes to managing her workload.

 “I’ve found it really, really useful understanding my rights as a teacher and an employee,” says Helen, a member of the North Lincolnshire Local Association.

“I just feel more confident in saying ‘no’ to things and I feel like I have got that power. It helps to keep stress at bay.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m always willing to help people, but you just have to prioritise between what has to be done now and what can be done if you have the time.”

Despite the pressures of teaching, Helen still finds her work hugely rewarding.

Her favourite moments are when her pupils achieve success and she knows that she has made a difference to their lives.

Helen says: “It’s when you see a child coming into Year 7 who is really difficult and you feel like you’re never going to get anything through to them, and then they leave in Year 11 with ten really good GCSEs.

“You think ‘that’s a success’ because I helped to turn him around from where he was to the fabulous student he is now - not by myself obviously, but I did contribute.”

Helen is one of the dedicated teachers featured in our Celebrating Experience campaign.