As our final Teacher Feature of the academic year, we take a look inside the Mathematics department for an interview with Ms Zupanc, our brilliant Mathematics teacher in Secondary school.

Whether it's through her brain-teasing maths puzzles in the weekly newsletters or her engaging teaching style, Ms Zupanc's passion is delivering an unlimited knowledge of Mathematics and support to all of her students through differentiated methods of teaching, instilling in them a love of Mathematics from the very start of their learning journey together.

How did your journey as a teacher begin?

I have always wanted to study Mathematics because of its supreme beauty and lack of deceitfulness; it is either an undisputed truth or a proven falsehood. Mathematics is elegant and harmonic in its formulae and geometrical properties. Ever since high school, I have been tutoring classmates and friends who were struggling with understanding concepts and developing a positive relationship with their Mathematics teacher. It only took a different approach and a patient helping hand to get them back on track. The more I tutored, the more I realised there have to be easier ways and methods to present Mathematics to students, so that they continue with their progress, not lose interest - and especially confidence - in their abilities. Ever since, I have constantly been improving my teaching methods to accomodate students' different abilities.

Why did you decide to specialise in Mathematics?

I studied Pedagogical Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Ljubljana, where I deepened my abstract mathematical knowledge and gained some valuable teaching experiences with students. My first job after university was actually covering my high school Mathematics teacher and I loved it. As soon as I finished my very first official lesson, I knew I made the right decision for my future career, and have worked at various local high schools before joining BISL.

What makes BISL such a unique place to work?

BISL offers an personalised approach to learning, catering to each individual student's needs, which is very much appreciated in Mathematics, creating a much suited learning environment. All students have the chance to work at their own abilities and at their own pace in a safe and respectful environment; no questions are perceived as 'stupid' in our lessons and support will always be offered to those who need it.

How would you describe a typical day at BISL?

My typical day at BISL starts with student-led morning activities with my 7B form, followed by a variety of KS3, KS4, or A level lessons through the day. No day is every the same, the students enjoy engaging in competitive activities, solving mysteries, and especially group work, helping their peers through their learning and I very much enjoy being a part of that.

Why is the experience of an international education important for a student?

The experience of an international education is important because it provides students with an opportunity to learn about new cultures and perspectives, developing their confidence in language skills, and experiencing different styles of teaching. It also provides excellent opportunities to study abroad and to make lifelong friends.

More from our Teacher Feature series