Profile
Heather Thompson
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About Me:
I live under a rocket ship (radio mast) with my family and for part of the year have very noisy sheep as next door neighbours! I love music and books and enjoy spending time outside, whatever the weather. My favourite thing is “wild swimming” in the sea during winter.
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My Work:
As a Conservation Educator I work with all kinds of zoo visitors, sharing information about different animals, habitats, and what we can all do to help save the world.
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Read more
A really big part of my job is school trips and the creation and delivery of education sessions for students of all ages (from Reception all the way up to university level). At Colchester Zoo we offer more than 80 talks and workshops so my day can be really varied in terms of teaching: I might be on an African Safari with 5 year olds and then jump straight into teaching Visitor Psychology to college students!
As well as working with schools, my department is responsible for information signs around the zoo, as well as research and work experience and outreach (engaging with people in different community groups)
I love any opportunity to start the conservation conversation!
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My Typical Day:
I wake up and grab breakfast then drive to the zoo. Work usually starts just after 8am. I check the diary and work with my team to get set up for any teaching sessions that are booked in. In between school sessions, I read and respond to e-mails, process bookings and create new education resources. Sometimes my job involves spending time out and about around the zoo. Lunch gets fitted in whenever there is a gap. I finish work at 4:30pm and head home to play with my cheeky 1 year old boy and my fluffy 8 year old house rabbit!
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What I'd do with the prize money:
If I won the money, it would go towards helping us set up a Youth Board at Colchester Zoo, with the aim of empowering local youngsters to have their say and to design projects which will enable them to get involved with real world conservation.
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Education:
I took 10 GCSEs at what was then called Ernulf community School. My option subjects were Music, History, Media Studies, DT Resistant Materials and French. I didn’t do very well at French but wish I had, because speaking another language can definitely open doors in the world of work. Especially within the type of environmental jobs that I was first interested in.
After GCSEs I studied for A2 levels in Geography, Biology, Chemistry and General Studies (GS was compulsory at my school) and AS levels in Maths, English Literature and Geology (I took Geology as an evening class because it’s not commonly offered in schools). This was too many subjects and I actually failed my Maths because I took on too much. In hindsight, I would definitely choose fewer subjects to focus on properly.
I studied Environmental Science at Lancaster University, then after graduating, I completed a PGCE at the University of Bedfordshire.
After a few years teaching in school, I went back to my studies for another year, completing the Community Water and Sanitation MSc course at Cranfield University.
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Qualifications:
10 GCSEs grade A*-B
4 A2 grades C-E
2 AS grades C & E
BSc(hons) Environmental Science
PGCE in Secondary Science
PGDip Community Water and Sanitation
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Work History:
Life Plus Europe – picker, packer and scanner
Aisling Lodge Residential Care Home – caterer, cleaner, carer
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Current Job:
Conservation Educator at Colchester Zoo
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Employer:
Colchester Zoo
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Smiley caring over-sharer!
What did you want to be after you left school?
A planet-saver!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Rarely. I dropped my pencil once in 6th form, and my teacher reeeeally overreacted.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Children's TV presenter or party planner
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Elvis Presley
What's your favourite food?
Sandwiches. Everything tastes better in a sandwich
Tell us a joke.
What cheese do you use to get a bear out of the woods? Camembert ("come on Bear")!
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