Mrs Downing - Additional Teacher 

Hello!  I’m Léonie Downing and I mostly teach Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6) where I enjoy supporting staff and children with all areas of the curriculum, but most specifically reading, writing and spelling.  I absolutely love words – reading them, spelling them, investigating where they come from and manipulating them.  I try really hard to pass this passion on to anyone I teach.

I have been teaching at Fleetville Juniors, where all three of my children went, since 2015 and love my role so much that I hope to be here for a long time to come! Prior to working at Fleetville, I taught in Welwyn and was a deputy head in Surrey, Hampshire and later in Watford.  I’m not very coordinated nor speedy, but I love running and also enjoy walking my dog, Beans, whilst avoiding tripping over roots and walking into posts.

I am inspired by many people – Greta Thunberg, Malala Yousafzai, Emma Watson, Maya Angelou, J.K. Rowling, Serena Williams… - but I think the trait that inspires me the most is passion; a commitment to something that is so strong that you will navigate any obstacle in order to follow it.

Kindness is smiles and understanding, listening and friendship.  It is a language that lifts others but that does not need words.

I am most proud of becoming a deputy head teacher after only 4 and a half years in teaching as well as producing three amazing children. I am also pretty proud of being able to run a fair distance every week after having been hopeless at any sort of exercise most of my adult life.