What’s your background?
After completing my degree in Creative Writing and History I enrolled on the SCITT’s teacher training programme. I spent time working as a TA in a secondary school during the pandemic, however before this course I had only worked in hospitality and retail.
Why did you decide to go into teaching?
Whilst working as a TA I discovered a real passion for education and working with young people which encouraged me to pursue a career in teaching. I tailored my dissertation to focus on Creative Writing in schools and I was able to create workshops, competitions and trips for students to aid my research. This opportunity enabled me to realise my love for the profession. The small changes our words and actions can have in shaping these young people is monumental. The students I worked with inspired me and I realised the satisfaction and pride I had in this work was something I needed to hold on to.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
A day in the life of a teacher is never the same! Even with a set timetable and scheme of work, students are able to surprise you daily. What I have enjoyed the most is, that even in the role of ‘teacher’ where I am guiding students to learn, students teach me something new everyday.
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Rewards come in all shapes and forms; from a student telling you that they ‘Finally get it!’, or improving on an assessment based on the feedback you gave them, a student coming to you for help because you are someone they trust, or the simple pleasure of a student stopping to tidy up their uniform when they see you, as they know and respect your expectations. But most importantly it is sharing the passion for our subject, finding ways to help students access the curriculum and feel confident in their abilities is the most joyful and satisfying factor of the job.
Did you get a job at the end of the course? Where has it taken you since?
Whilst training I was on placement at Middlewich High School and offered a job there. I am now in my third year of teaching. I have had an amazing time at the school, building on the instruction and guidance founded by the SCITT. Since starting, I have been lucky enough to experience lots of different opportunities. In my first year I was the Extra-Curricular Lead for my Department, assisted in creating new schemes of work and a Head of House. All of these were voluntary and unpaid, but I would encourage every new teacher to put their name forward when opportunities like this arrive as they are great ways to experience the school and students outside of a lesson environment and to expand your planning and curriculum knowledge. In my second year I applied to be the Oracy and Language Lead for the school, another daunting but extremely rewarding experience as I have been able to lead staff CPD, visit other schools, attend courses and improve my own practice which as teachers we should always aspire to do. This year I have started a new role as Head of Year 7 and I have absolutely loved it so far (she says in September…)! After mainly working on curriculum opportunities, this new role in pastoral has opened my eyes to a whole new side of education.
What were the three best things about the SCITT programme?
What makes Cheshire East SCITT stand out from other providers is its ‘hands-on’ approach. The weekly theory element of the course is outstanding, but tied with this is that we spent four days per week in schools. I loved this, as coming straight from university and studying online I was eager for a practical approach to my training. The best way to describe it is ‘learning on the job’, after two weeks of observing you gradually transition into taking on classes where you receive instant and constructive feedback. Personally, it made me feel like I was improving with each day which created a constant positivity to the work I was doing and my approach to the course.
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Secondly, where the SCITT shines is the network of connections throughout schools and the personable approach to our mentorship. For each subject there is a Subject Expert you will meet with regularly who is there to help with any knowledge concerns or planning ideas. You will also have the 1-1 support of a Subject Mentor who will be with you in the classroom and offer weekly feedback and support.
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Finally, what surprised me most was the relationships built with the other trainees and the SCITT staff. Over the year of this course we very much became a community who supported, guided and championed one another. Not one of us hasn’t relied on those connections and they have definitely enhanced, if not made this experience.
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Would you recommend the Cheshire East SCITT to anyone considering a career in teaching?
I would definitely (and already have) recommend the Cheshire East SCITT to anyone, regardless of position or experience. The SCITT itself will make you the best possible teacher you can be.