Chantelle Stewart

Chantelle is 20 years old and in the third year of her History degree at Queen Mary University of London. She also works part time and does a lot of volunteer work in Tower Hamlets and Hackney. Currently she is leading a mentoring session for Year 6 girls in Cayley Primary School and has done so for the last two years. She also teaches at a summer school in Hackney and it is this volunteer work which made her interested in a career in teaching. Once she graduates she will begin her teacher training with Teach First. She was keen to become a Teach First teacher as their mission is addressing educational disadvantage which is a cause close to Chantelle's heart. It is also a topic which she is currently researching for her university dissertation.

In later life it has always been a wish of Chantelle's to adopt children and if possible open a foster home in South or East London. This is mainly due to the high levels of children in care and specifically an over representation of ethnic minority children. Her SAC is focusing on Year 10 and 11 students who may not be on track to get their 5 A*-C's or need an alternative route in life than conventional academics. It aims to teach them soft and transferable skills as well as giving them experience which can help them in what ever career they choose.

The person who she is most inspired by is Malcolm X. He was a leader that, however controversial, sought to change the way people think first and to aspire change elsewhere. He would go against what other people thought in order to make a stand for what he thought should be done. These are some of the attributes Chantelle tries to live by and teach to the young people she works with.