Vivienne Westwood goes back to school

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'My motto is you get out of life what you put in,' Vivienne Westwood tells 
a rapt classroom of London teenagers. ‘If you're a person who sits in front of the TV and wastes life, nothing happens.'

Here to play teacher for the day, 
Vivienne is taking a GCSE art lesson at the invitation of Teach First - an independent charity that offers high-flying graduates on-the-job teacher training in challenging comprehensive schools.

She's unfazed by her audience, but then she's got history. Rewind 40 years, and Vivienne could be found teaching a class of infant school children not far from this very classroom. Although she's not planning on giving up the day job, she's out to inspire other creative types to do just that by showing how rewarding a day in the classroom can be.

Vivienne, what did you want to be when you were at school?
I desperately wanted to be a painter, but I didn't know art galleries existed until 
I was 17. We weren't shown paintings or art books at school. I did end up going to art college, but I quit because I couldn't see how I could earn a living from painting.

Do you have fond memories of your own school years?
I absolutely loved learning, and had a 
favourite teacher, Mr Scott, who taught 
history and fired us up with his enthusiasm.

What's your advice to students?
‘What else are you interested in?' You need to go away and engage with other things. 
I don't sit around doodling fashion drawings - if I did, I'd run out of ideas.

Why are you supporting this project?
I'm from a working-class background 
myself and realise that not everybody will get a marvellous education. Teach First's mission is to get great people working in tough schools, and with children who are educationally disadvantaged because they don't have wealthy parents.

TEACH FIRST IS LOOKING FOR 2010 APPLICANTS - CLICK HERE TO APPLY, AND FOR MORE INFO

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