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Interview with a Teacher
02 Mar, 20231-2 minutes
Considering a role in education?
If you have your sights set on working in the classroom, we’ve been catching up with a Teacher from the North West to get their open and honest thoughts on working in the education industry.
How did you decide you wanted to work in the education industry?
I originally went to university to complete a degree in photography. However, during my summer breaks from university I worked for a charity that took children with additional needs on day trips.
One of the managers saw my potential and encouraged me to look into teaching. I lacked self-confidence at the time but I recognised that I was able to connect with the most challenging children and found a passion for it.
Where do you see your career as a Teacher and the industry being in 5 years?
I would like to say that the education industry will evolve but I don’t believe this will happen. The Government puts so much pressure on schools and regularly changes expectations with little consultation with the people doing the jobs.
What has your career path looked like up until this point?
I have had a very interesting career path so far as I have worked in London, Australia and Blackpool. I have been: a Teacher, Team Leader, Data Leader and Core Subject Leader within different settings. I’ve found that schools differ so much from one another so each school is a totally different experience, which has made my career path very varied!
What is your proudest career achievement to date?
I guess in terms of a promotion, I shared a Team Leader and data role and I also was in charge of the subject inquiry, which was a school focus.
However, my proudest moment was when the children in my class were complaining about how boring our playground was compared to the play area that we went on during a school trip. So, I asked the children to research and draw up plans of what our playground should look like.
They made a presentation for management to ask permission to build a new playground. Management agreed and the children did all the work such as contacting different companies to ask for donations so that we could build the playground. They also did a great job of raising money, through a cake sale.
Once all the funds were raised and measurements completed we then built a playground at the weekend with the parents - it was a huge success!
What are the key attributes / skills needed to succeed in the education industry?
There are four that stand out to me;
Flexibility - Each day is different and you never know what can happen so it’s good to be prepared for last minute changes.
Organisation - To be a successful Teacher, organisation is essential. There are a million and one things to remember so if you aren’t organised it can become very stressful.
Communication - You have to be a good communicator to work in a school as you are in contact with a range of professionals. You also need to communicate with parents daily and sometimes those conversations can be difficult, so be prepared for this.
Relationships - It is essential to build positive relationships with your students, colleagues and parents. This is vital for any school setting.
How long did your training to become a Teacher take and what did it involve?
I completed a degree in photography and then I completed a 1 year PGCE course to become a Teacher.
What does a typical working day as a Teacher involve?
The days are full from start to finish, generally each day looks like this;
7:45am - I arrive at school to prepare lesson resources.
8:45am - I greet the children and parents.
Then it’s a full day of teaching a variety of subjects until 3:25.
3:30pm-4:30pm - I will either be in a meeting or running an after school club.
4:30pm-5:15pm - I use this time to finish any marking or planning that needs to be completed.
Is there anything you wish you knew about the role of a Teacher before you started?
I wish I knew that you aren’t just required to be a Teacher, you have to have many hats such as Social Worker, Doctor, Counsellor and Teacher!
If you could make one change within the education industry, what would it be and why?
I would get rid of OFSTED because it takes away valuable time from what really matters, the children. Sometimes it feels like we do certain paperwork just to please OFSTED.
The Government should be able to put their trust in schools. Our jobs require hard work, we are all over worked, stressed and tired but we do our jobs because we want the best for our children so sending in inspectors to find flaws isn’t the most productive way.
Checking on schools should be done in a more supportive manner without trying to grade them. Teachers are under a lot of pressure as it is!
How important is career progression to you within the education industry?
I love my job because I like being a classroom based teacher. Most promotions would take me out of the classroom. I feel like there isn’t much opportunity to stay in class and progress up the ladder.
Share your experience
Every individual brings a unique set of experiences, thoughts, and insights to the table. We believe in giving a voice to a community of professionals to inspire positive change and champion reform in the education sector.
If you work in the education sector and would like to share your own personal and professional experiences, we’d love to hear from you. Perhaps you have a different perspective, could offer a fresh angle, or want to challenge assumptions.
Simply reach out to our Head of Content, Nicole Sherwood, to discuss a collaboration which makes your voice count.
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