5 Minutes with... Dom Shread (2012)

By Florry Wharton (Lower Sixth)

We would like to introduce, or re-introduce Mr Shread. A former pupil (1997 to 2012), Dom is now a teacher at St Peter’s. We discuss what makes being part of our school community so special, something Mr Shread will most certainly miss as he moves onto his next adventure in Dubai.

What is your role at St Peters?

At St Peter’s I teach Business and Economics. Currently, I am assistant house master in The Manor, however I have previously been an assistant in Clifton too! I also run Young Enterprise and enjoy coaching rugby and tennis.

What have you enjoyed most about teaching at St Peter’s?

Here, no day is ever the same! You never know what is going to be thrown in your direction, but also, I think just the people. The students are all so different, many quirky with their own ideas, it makes every day so interesting and completely different - in a good way that is.

How different is it being at school as a pupil and then as a teacher?

In some ways it’s very similar, but then again it is not. It is nice to be able to break down the so called ‘teacher barriers’ which I had with people who taught me who are now my colleagues. Mr White, for example taught me in my final year of Economics and is now my Head of Department. Of course, there is also Paddy Stephen who previously tackled me on a rugby pitch whilst coaching me, and Mr Edwards who taught me Physics. That is just to name a few of the inspirational characters who taught me who I now have the pleasure of working with, which is cool. With that said, teaching is still as hectic as my life as a student because there is no such thing as a break time or a lunch time, there is always something to do and something to be excited about.

What is your favourite thing about being involved with boarding at The Manor?

For sure, the best thing about boarding is the relationships you build with the pupils. You get to know everyone, and you know what makes them tick. This means you can have a real laugh and enjoy your time with them even more, whether it be taking them paint balling, playing a game of Ping Pong or simply helping them with their prep in the evening. I find it a lot more rewarding than just working in the day side of the school.

How has your involvement in the development of Young Enterprise helped pupils learn more about business?

Young enterprise is a business competition where Lower Sixth pupils have a year to build their own business from start to finish. They come up with an idea and take it to market, I guide them through that process. The year that we got to the European Finals was exceptional, but it’s not just how far you get in the competition that matters the most, it’s the business skills you learn. In the future you are either going to run a business or work for a business, it is one of the only times at school you get to experience this. This gives pupils not only valuable business experience, but something tangible for their CVs. It’s also pretty good fun!

What inspired you to organise your 10-year reunion?

I guess it was out of curiosity to see what everyone else was up to. It was also just a fantastic event, the people at St. Peter’s are what make it. It was great to reconnect with friends that I hadn’t seen in a long time and also friends that I knew really well and see them in a familiar setting which we no longer regularly experience together. I think it was great for a lot of people who hadn’t seen the school in a long time, I took them on a tour so they could see the new stuff which has been developed, such as the new Maths block and swimming pool, it was exciting to show them that. It was a worthwhile experience, less so for me because I know the school backwards, but I think they gained a lot of experience.

What will you miss the most/least about St Peter’s?

Most and the least is a really difficult question. Genuinely what I will miss the most is the connections I have and the people here. I have loads of good memories here, it will be very sad to go leaving both the people and the memories behind. I have a very fond memory of when I was a student and my dad, who taught Chemistry, accidentally set fire to a fume cupboard in the lecture theatre, that was hilarious!

York is a lovely place to be, and Peter’s is one of the best schools in the UK, you never know I might be back at some point in the future.

It’s hard to think of something I’ll miss the least, it might have to be the school’s black coffee. The school’s black coffee is radioactive. It’s what all the teachers in the school run on, it has a very specific and not particularly nice taste, but everyone just drinks it anyway. I certainly will be thankful to rid myself of its taste.

Ties and Socks

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