Joshua Geary

Joshua Geary: From Edge Hill graduate to Educating Yorkshire’s new maths teacher 

When Joshua Geary graduated from Edge Hill University in 2024 with a degree in BSc (Hons) Secondary Maths Education with QTS, he was ready to take on the challenges of the classroom. What he didn’t expect was that his first year as a teacher would be shared with the nation as part of Channel 4’s return of Educating Yorkshire.

From Edge Hill to the classroom 

Joshua’s journey to teaching began at Edge Hill, he is now a Maths Teacher at Thornhill Community Academy, the Yorkshire school where the much-loved documentary series is filmed. 

Joshua said: “The variety of opportunities that were available through my degree, not to mention how far up the rankings Edge Hill is, inspired me to study here.” 

“The lecturers were extremely supportive and I always felt like I was developing and learning while with them. And, of course, all my amazing course friends I met along the way.” 

Edge Hill supported Joshua through three teaching placements, offering regular observations and feedback that helped him grow into a confident and reflective teacher. Along the way, he developed three key skills that he uses daily: 

• Public speaking: “Before I came to Edge Hill, I struggled speaking in front of groups, arguably quite important for teaching! My course helped me overcome that.” 

• Deeper thinking: “It helped me see the bigger picture when planning lessons and understanding how students learn.” 

• Social skills: “Building relationships with course mates, colleagues, and students has been vital, it makes my job so much easier.” 

Outside the classroom, Joshua joined Rugby Union, finding confidence, friendship, and a sense of community. “They looked after one another like a massive family. Getting involved in something I wasn’t sure about at first really brought me out of my shell.” 

Life as a newly qualified teacher 

Joshua’s first year teaching has been both rewarding and challenging. 

Joshua said: “Being given full control over five classes and 150 pupils was nerve-wracking but incredible. The behaviour side was tough at times, not every teenager loves doing maths for an hour! But seeing your pupils succeed, especially at GCSE results time, is unbeatable.” 

He credits Edge Hill’s lecturers for preparing him for the realities of the classroom. “They showed us every avenue of teaching, what to expect and how to adapt. I can’t thank them enough for that.” 

Joshua’s advice for new teachers is clear: “Observe as much as you can, even outside your subject area, you’ll learn so much from different styles. Be reflective, but not just about what goes wrong. Reflect on what goes well too, teachers are often too critical on themselves.” 

Filming Educating Yorkshire 

Joshua’s first teaching role became even more memorable when Educating Yorkshire returned to film at his school. 

Joshua said: “When I first signed my contract, I thought it would be a normal first year. It wasn’t until about a month before term started that I found out the school was being filmed again.” 

Having cameras in his classroom brought extra pressure at first, but Joshua soon adapted. 

“It felt like I had to be on top form all the time, but I didn’t change how I taught. After watching it back, I’ve learned from seeing myself on screen, it’s helped me become a better teacher. Seeing myself on TV was surreal, a mix of pride and embarrassment, especially when I sang. But it made me realise how much I love what I do.” 

Looking ahead 

Joshua plans to keep developing as a teacher and hopes to move into leadership roles in the future. He’s passionate about changing how students view maths. 

Joshua commented: “I want to break the stigma that maths is only for certain types of students. Everyone can do maths, and I want my pupils to believe that.” 

He also hopes to inspire others to consider teaching: “It’s one of the most rewarding careers. I’m lucky to be in a school that supports me, and I want to help new teachers find that same joy.” 

Joshua wanted to thank those who helped him on his journey “A massive thank you to my lecturers, Gordon, Felix, and Ghada, who helped me become the teacher I am today. To my family and friends who supported me through university and that crazy first year of teaching.”