A FORMER pupil has returned to class at his old school as a newly qualified teacher.

Windermere School has welcomed back Adam Whitehead, who attended the senior school between 2005 and 2012.

“I thought it would be strange coming back but it is such a warm and caring school it has always felt right," said the 25-year-old, who lives in Kendal.

“It is a big part of my childhood and it feels amazing to be giving something back. The Elleray grounds are fantastic and we have an outdoor classroom right on our doorstep."

Mr Whitehead is now a form tutor teaching maths and English to the Year 4 class. He also teaches science, humanities, computing, drama and adventurous learning to Year 3 pupils.

Julie King, head of the school's Elleray campus, said: “We are lucky to have Adam; he's a great addition to the staff team.

"As Adam came through school he is also a real advocate for adventurous learning, which is central to our ethos.

"It means pushing the boundaries of how our students learn and regularly taking education outside of the classroom and into our amazing local environment, whether that is the school grounds or the wider area”.

As well as getting children ready for an increasingly electronic world, Mr Whitehead hopes to get more involved with the PE department and the development of young hockey players.

Outside school he is captain of the Windermere Hockey Club men’s first team.

“The best thing about teaching is giving children opportunities to learn for themselves," said the former criminology student at Keele University.

“I will be encouraging pupils to make choices that stretch their own learning, rather than relying on others.

"We will discuss current affairs, to give their learning context, and inspire them to move forward. The children who come to Elleray leave with a fantastic ability to talk to adults and have good conversations without being shy."

Windermere School - formerly known as St Anne's - was established in 1863 and is a boarding and day school for boys and girls aged three to 18. More than 350 pupils are based on two sites in Windermere.