Sarah Ogilvie

Author, Educator and Professional Gardener

I passionately believe that worthwhile learning comes from a starting point of curiosity and courage. As a former primary school teacher and mathematics subject leader, I now combine my interest in learning styles, my love of teaching and obsession with plants through writing, children’s workshops, and my new career as a professional gardener.

My rhyming books, ‘101’ and ‘Pearl Proves a Point’, turn true classroom stories into engaging and relatable mini adventures about maths and learning for children aged 8-11 years.

My interest in the concept of Growth Mindsets came from an in-depth study I carried out as part of a specialised and additional qualification in teaching mathematics to struggling learners. As a result of this study, I led a change in my last school where children were seated in mixed achieving groups and were able to choose their own level of maths tasks. The positive difference in the confidence and achievements of all children (yes, even those higher achievers!) was immense. With this significant change, my view of myself as a learner also took a leap in an unexpected direction, hence ‘Author, Educator and Professional Gardener’!