On Lewis Thomas’s first day of teaching he recalls the strange feeling he felt in the staffroom sitting between two colleagues who he once called his teachers

“It was weird,” he said. “Just that feeling to now be calling them by their first name instead of ‘Mister and Misses’ was just really surreal.”

Mr Thomas is one of several former New Town High School students – including Nick Baker and James Clifford, pictured above – who have gone full circle to be back teaching at the 102-year-old all-boys-school where they once studied.

“It’s great to see so many staff members still here from when I graduated in 2014,” Mr Thomas said.

“I was about to sign a contract for a primary school but received a phone call about the possibility of coming to New Town, and the question didn’t even need to be answered about whether I was going to sign here or not. It’s a great school.”

Mr Clifford said he’s valuing being able to teach at his former stomping grounds.

“I was super lucky – I did my last university prac at New Town High and I was really fortunate to pick up my first contract here, afterwards,” he said.

“That was awesome because it’s a school I’m comfortable and familiar with, and the structures and traditions are similar to when I studied here. It made it an easy transition for me in my first year of teaching.”

The teachers said they held little concerns about teaching in a new environment from next year when New Town High merges with all-girls-school Ogilvie.

“It’s only across the road and I’m sure we’ll adapt,” Mr Baker said.

“It’s fine, it’s just like going into a new workplace. I’m not entirely sure how it’ll all pan out just yet, but, it’ll be all right.”