How Farrah Al Dujaili became an early years educator

We caught up with Farrah Al Dujaili to hear about her career in early years education

Farrah Al-Dujaili teaching Early Years students. Image courtesy of Farrah Al-Dujaili.

What I do

I am an Early Years teacher and the Expressive Arts and Design Subject Leader at The Blue Coat School in Birmingham. I was attracted to the school because it values developing creativity as a skill. I follow the EYFS Framework and teach all subjects, including mathematics, Literacy, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. In my opinion, teaching in the early years lends itself to my design background. The early years curriculum is cross curricular in nature and the children access learning independently in the enhanced continuous provision. When planning, I have to consider visual representations of concepts to support pupils’ learning, whilst designing activities to help pupils achieve the learning objective or develop a skill through enticing and multisensory experiences.

Young maker at work. Image courtesy of Farrah Al-Dujaili.

Jobs in early years education

Roles include: Early Years teacher, Nursery teacher, Reception teacher, Primary teacher, Subject Leader, Year Group Leader, Early Years Lead Practitioner, Educational Researcher, etc.

Why craft and teaching?

After completing my degree, I had to decide whether to apply for a business support scheme or complete a PGCE course. Meanwhile, my tutors saw potential for me to complete a Masters course and they encouraged me to apply. At the time, it was still a viable route into teaching, without completing a PGCE, so it gave me the potential to make and teach. I was able to secure funding to cover the course fees and I went straight from my degree to my MA programme within weeks.

My MA led me to focus solely on my practice as an Art Jeweller for approximately six years. During a residency at the School of jewellery in 2016 my focus shifted to setting up my jewellery brand Oddical. Although designing and making made me happy, I found the business aspects of running a brand frustrating. During this time, I was making, painting and imagining alongside my nephew. The idea of teaching in the Early Years became my focus. I wanted to inspire pupils to love making from a young age and I knew of other makers from my degree course who had pursued this fulfilling career path.

Myrtle Hoop Drop Earrings. Image by Garazi Photography.

What I studied at school

GCSEs: English, Maths, Art and Design, English Literature, German, History and RE. A Levels: Art and Design, English Literature, History, Media Studies and General Studies. I enjoyed the academic and creative nature of the subjects; they were what I was good at. I knew I wanted to do something creative for a degree, but I didn’t know what that would be; I enjoyed design and writing, so these seemed to be a good mixture. I remember the relief of having so much more time for art in my timetable at school once I had chosen my options.

What I studied after school

A Foundation Degree in Art and Design. I went to Stourbridge College to complete this, where tutors helped me decide which creative degree to apply for. I was simply going to apply for a Fine Art degree but my art teachers had recommended this course to get a better idea of what to apply for.

After my foundation degree, I went on to study for the BA Jewellery and Silversmithing degree at the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University. It seemed the obvious choice for me with its amazing reputation, facilities and only short train journey away from where I lived. I graduated in 2009 and then I went straight on to complete my MA Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products in 2010.

I completed my PGCE Primary Early Years course in 2020 at the University of Worcester. Again, it had a great reputation and the teaching placements were close to home. It was clear that my craft background, and varied experiences, was a strength that I would bring to teaching.

My career path

After completing my MA, I focused on creating art jewellery, and applying for exhibitions and competitions. I had a full-time job running alongside this, to support myself financially. In 2011, I had my work exhibited in Talente in Munich and I won the Art Jewellery Forum Emerging Artist Award, and this gave me the opportunity to give a lecture in New York and exhibit work with Ornamentum gallery. In 2012, my work was selected for the European Prize for Applied Arts and I exhibited work internationally.

In 2016, I launched my jewellery brand Oddical, after developing the collection during my residency at the School of Jewellery. With that collection I won various awards including: ‘KickStarter of the Year’ National Association of Jewellery Award; ‘Designer to Watch’ at International Jewellery London; I was a finalist for ‘New Designer of the Year’ at the Retail Jeweller UK Jewellery Awards; ‘Young Designer of the Year’ at the Professional Jeweller Award; and a top 50 finalist for the ASOS Fashion Discovery.

However, in 2018 I decided it was time for a career change and began looking into Early Years PGCE courses.

Important decisions

It was important to accept that my career path was not going to be directly linked with my degree. That was something I struggled with at first, believing that I had to be a jewellery designer to feel I had succeeded. At one point, I interviewed and was offered a job to design for the high street in London. My friends and family made me stop and think whether it would truly make me happy. I realised it wouldn’t and focused on applying for the PGCE course. Realising that I could take a different route into teaching and still be creative was exciting.

Now, I’m very interested in exploring how EAD is taught in the Early Years. My experience of completing research during my PGCE has created an interest in completing a MA in Education. I have reverted back to an ethic whereby my craft practice is purely creative and not motivated by business or money. Financial pressure started to take the joy out of the creative process. I am planning to start making and applying for exhibitions again in the future. I think it is valuable for children to see their teachers as makers.

Young maker at work. Image courtesy of Farrah Al-Dujaili.

My advice to others

Funding and resources have been a challenge throughout. Every exhibition or trade show comes with a cost that you hope to cover, but it does not always work out that way. Finding free business support and finding a network of other creatives for emotional support, when you are an independent brand based in a small town, was difficult. Craft careers do not operate in a typical 9-5 fashion, so some people may not be completely supportive of that. I often felt I had to justify what I was doing. Personally, confidence was a challenge. You do have to put barriers up and try to not compare yourself to others and own that your work is different. Even deciding to apply for a PGCE and believe I had something to offer took a lot of self-reflection.

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