Hi, I’m Emily! I have a degree in English and have been training since September in two different placement schools in Paignton and Totnes. I’m a big reader and I love gaming too, my Switch is never far away! Why did you want to be a teacher? After university, I couldn’t decide what job I wanted but all I knew is that I wanted to help people. After trying out a few weeks volunteering in a school, I realised that teaching was perfect – it allowed me to help people every day and influence children to be the best that they can be every day. Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? I looked at several providers, but Exeter Consortium were the most welcoming during the interviews, and I knew from the start that Dawn, Louise and Sara would help with anything I needed. That support has been incredible throughout the course and makes training a lot less daunting for people who aren’t from the world of education! Have you found Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming? Amazingly so! From day one, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions or get advice, and that’s continued throughout the whole year. They always check in to see how we’re doing and never mind us emailing during the week if we need some help. Describe your time training to teach in three words: Intense, but fun and worthwhile! What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers? If you want to make a positive difference, and are motivated by helping people, you can’t go wrong! It might seem scary, but you’ll be amazed how much you love it, even after just one day in class!
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With our trainees preparing for their block practice and having just completed their first assessments, we thought it would be a good time to reflect on what has been a positive half term. Our Primary trainees have recently submitted their first PGCE assignment and this reading and reflection will now support them in preparing for their second assessment point when they consider how adaptive teaching can help them to meet the needs of the children in their classes. Our schools report back that our trainees are making good progress and are supporting their mentors and children in so many ways. Check out this video where our two trainees at Abbotskerswell have been using video to teach sign language across the school. This is what Headteacher Kevin Martin had to say about them: "Our two trainees from Exeter Consortium, Mrs Rachel Hawkins and Miss Danielle Searle, came up with their own way that our bubbles can continue to communicate with each other while having to be kept apart. Each week, Danielle and Rachel make and send videos of themselves teaching a ‘Sign of the Week’ to each of the teachers in our school. Children in each class then watch these in their class with their teachers. The signs have been a great way for our pupils to continue to be able to communicate with those in different classes who they are not getting an opportunity to see at the moment. We have had very good feedback from parents about this, with parents commenting how their children have been coming home and show the different signs to them. It has also been a good example of how teachers are thinking of creative ways of engaging the children and bringing out some positives during these challenging times. It has been great that even at an early stage in their placements, our trainees were able to think creatively and offer something that has impacted positively on our whole school community." If you’re thinking about training to teach with us, keep an eye on this blog and our Twitter @ExCoTSA and Facebook www.facebook.com/ExCoTSA feeds to learn more about our school-centred approach.
A positive start to another year!
Our Primary Trainees have now settled into their school placements after four busy weeks getting to know their classes and colleagues. They found being in school for the first week of term useful to observe how our amazing mentors settled the children back in after what was such an unusual summer term. They've been able to take what they've been learning through our training sessions and watch it applied in practice in their schools, and are now beginning to build their own mental model for great teaching. We have heard from our schools that the trainees have brought a professional and reflective attitude which is what we want from our latest cohort of key workers. Well done class of 2021 - It’s an exciting process to witness every year! We've also been delighted to hear from our NQTs who are enjoying the freedom of having their own classes. We wish them the very best in their new schools. If you’re thinking about training to teach with us, keep an eye on this blog and our Twitter @ExCoTSA and Facebook www.facebook.com/ExCoTSA feeds to learn more about our school-centred approach. The year has started with a bang for our Primary trainees and we are thrilled to have 33 engaged and knowledgeable students join the programme. We have a great mix of people from a range of backgrounds, many of whom have considerable school experience and others who have useful skills from other careers. All have shown a great enthusiasm and engagement with our induction days prior to the start of their school placements this week. We have shared our origin stories in a snowball fight which broke the ice (pun intended), and in doing so have learned what gave each trainee the bug to teach. We have unpicked what we mean by ‘deliberate practice’ and applied it to learning the latest playground craze ‘The Triangle Dance’. Well, we need to send the trainees into school able to impress in the playground as well as the classroom… Friendships and connections have been forged which we believe are key to having a productive year. Alongside the team building and laughter, we have also faced some important and sometimes challenging subjects in order to prepare these new trainee teachers for their time in school. At the heart of all we do is the wellbeing and safety of pupils. We were fortunate to have excellent Safeguarding training delivered by one of our partner headteachers, Alice Purcell from Ide School, who covered all the key elements of safeguarding and child protection clearly and sensitively. We also enjoyed a classroom safari, looking at how the school make a small village site and a Victorian building work for their pupils. We were blown away by the creativity at the school and especially the Take One project which they are hoping might be displayed at the National Gallery. The trainees are now settling into their schools for a full week immersed within the school setting and are carrying out a task designed to support them when they are NQTs in their own classes next year. They’re on the start of an incredible journey, and we are thrilled to be supporting them through it. Best of luck, Class of 2020! Thank you so much for a fantastic couple of days. I found them very worthwhile and valuable (and a really good giggle at points!) and am now very much looking forward to going into school next week. - Jacqui I really enjoyed the last two days and am really excited to get started in class next week. - Kirsty |
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