TEACHER TUESDAY: Abigail Hart

Name, position at Stonar and when you joined

Abigail Hart - Subject Lead of Photography and Teacher of Art. I started September 2026.

What brought you to Stonar, and what has surprised you most since joining?

I grew up in Surrey and always wanted to become a teacher. After finishing my A Levels, I went to Bath Spa University to complete my BA, and then my PGCE.

I was drawn to Stonar because of its reputation for combining strong academic standards with a genuinely creative and supportive atmosphere. I have been a teacher for three years. During those three years I had the opportunity to be a temporary head of department, and wanted to continue progressing in my career, so applied to be a subject lead in Photography. I have always had a love for photography, which stemmed from my grandad who was an avid photographer and graphic designer. I also love teaching art and am very excited to work with the pupils to help their creativity blossom.

Since joining Stonar, the thing that has surprised me most has been how welcoming and engaged the whole community is. The pupils are enthusiastic and willing to embrace new ideas, and I've been impressed by the positive relationships between staff and pupils. There is a real sense of community here, which has made settling into the school incredibly easy and enjoyable.

What is it about your subject that you find particularly interesting, and what do you hope pupils take away from studying it?

What I love most about photography is its unique ability to communicate ideas, emotions and stories without using words. I particularly enjoy helping pupils develop their own creative voice and seeing how different individuals can respond to the same brief in completely different ways. I always encourage pupils to edit and develop ideas both digitally and physically; there is so much you can do to turn a photograph into a captivating piece of art.

Beyond learning technical skills, I hope pupils take away confidence in their own creativity and the ability to look more closely at the world around them. Photography encourages observation, critical thinking and problem-solving, all of which are valuable skills both inside and outside the classroom. Most importantly, I hope pupils leave with an appreciation of how powerful images can be in shaping the way we see ourselves and the world around us.

What is something you’ve learned from your pupils or from your time in teaching?

One of the most valuable things I’ve learned from my pupils is the importance of keeping an open mind and being willing to experiment. Having confidence is often just as important as talent. Some of the pupils who make the greatest progress are not necessarily those who arrive with the strongest technical skills, but those who take risks, persevere, embrace mistakes and trust their own ideas.

Outside of school, what do you enjoy doing - and what’s something about you that people at Stonar might be surprised to learn?

Outside of school I enjoy being creative as well as in the classroom. I am always making something, often decorating my new home, taking photos, painting or making jewellery. I also really enjoy cooking and used to have my own website I posted recipes on.

For about five years when I was younger, I used to be compete as a ballroom dancer.