Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
Prior to my training with Exeter Consortium, I taught internationally for seven years covering all ages in primary and sometimes secondary. 

Why did you want to be a teacher?
For me, it’s all about seeing your students flourish and having a positive impact on their lives. It is such a relationship focused role and when you have those moments where you see someone overcome a challenge or do well, there isn’t a feeling like it. 

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
It was actually a very simple choice for me! I knew that I wanted to spend as much time in school as possible and really see the way a school year develops. The way ECSA interweaves training with your placements was something that stood out and it was definitely the right path for me.

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
Having such excellent course leaders and mentors really made the course stand out for me. The expert training I received really has made me feel prepared to begin my role as an ECT. Completing your initial teacher training can often feel overwhelming with the amount of information but everything was conveyed by ECSA in such a clear and helpful way this never felt like an issue.

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
Absolutely! There was never a moment where I didn’t feel like I had the complete support of everyone there. If I ever had any questions or didn’t know what to do, Dawn and Sara were always available at the drop of a hat to help navigate any difficulties. 

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Rewarding, worthwhile, thorough.

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
Lean into it! I promise you there will be times where something feels impossible or out of your comfort zone but give it a go and you’ll surprise yourself in ways that you never knew were possible. Get out there, build those relationships, push yourself to be better, reflect and learn from everything and everyone around you.

Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
Before applying for the consortium course, I had been a Teaching Assistant in Exeter for two years with experience of working in Nursery - Year Three. I had absolutely loved working in early years and key stage one, therefore I decided to join the 3-7 course. In September, I will be starting in a role as a class teacher at a 3-form entry school in Exeter. 

Why did you want to be a teacher?
Teaching is such a rewarding job! It’s such a privilege to be part of children’s educational journeys and seeing them progress, no matter how big or small the achievement is.

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
I liked that Exeter Consortium provides the amazing opportunity to be in school right from the beginning of the year, this allows you to really get to know the class and staff team while settling into school life. The practical ethos of the course is fantastic, you really get a sense of what the role of the teacher will be. Also, being able to specialise in the 3-7 course really stood out to me. 

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
I’ve been able to meet experts within this field both on my placements and in training sessions which provides invaluable experiences. It’s been great to see how to successfully use the training and research before trying it out for myself. This also creates a supportive team to connect with, which allows for a clear link between both elements of the course (placement and training sessions). 

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
Exeter Consortium have such a friendly team which are there to support the students throughout the whole year. Though the amount of time in schools teaching will go up, the team are only a call or email away.

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Fulfilling, fast-paced and exciting!

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?

• Say yes to opportunities within the school community (trips and clubs) to truly get a feel for school life.
  
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions! You are there to grow and learn. Even if it feels like a silly question, it could still help.
  
• Invest in a good travel mug and stock up on post-it notes!

Why did you want to be a teacher?
I wanted to be a teacher in order to help inspire and motivate children to become the best version of themselves. Being an integral part of helping to shape children into who they want to be is truly a privilege I am blessed to be a part of.
 
Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider?
I chose to train with Exeter Consortium as I wanted to gain as much experience immersed in school as possible. Unlike other University providers, Exeter Consortium favours long-term placements which allow you to make solid, long-lasting relationships with both the children and the staff. 

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
My favourite aspect of the course was simply the number of hours we had applying what we had learnt in placement; I feel that you can only really learn to be a teacher when you are immersed in the school environment. 

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
The team at Exeter Consortium are amazing! They were always supportive, encouraging and friendly. If there were ever any problems, they would always make sure to check in on you and help work through any issues together.

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Interesting, rewarding and intense!

Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
My teaching career started when I became a Teaching Assistant in my local primary school whilst completing my degree. I have now secured a job in a primary school teaching a mixed class of EYFS/Year 1 in September!

Why did you want to be a teacher?
I chose to become a teacher because I wanted to make a difference to children’s lives and I have always been passionate about this. Having the chance to support children, watching them grow and thrive through their learning is very rewarding. 

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
One of the reasons I chose to complete my training with Exeter Consortium is due to their holistic approach to teacher training. I also wanted to gain as much in class experience as possible and they put you in placement from the beginning, so I knew this would be the best route for me. Everyone at the Consortium was very supportive through the interview process and this supported my decision.

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
I’ve really enjoyed the training sessions, especially the visits to other schools, each with a different focus. These days have been truly inspirational and have given me a wide range of ideas to apply in my own teaching.

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
Exeter Consortium are extremely welcoming and have been very supportive throughout!

Exeter Consortium strive to be inclusive and committed to Equal opportunities. Are you able to comment on any way in which you found this to be the case?
The Consortium set up a North Devon hub that was closer to a group of trainees and on the days we attended our local training centre, the sessions were the same as those taking place in the other centres. They made sure we had equal opportunities and experiences throughout the course. 

Describe your time training to teach in three words:
Rewarding, inspiring, exciting!

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs out there! Take the jump and go for it! Whilst every day is different and you may face certain challenges, it is worth it in the end!