Trainee Spotlight | Jessica Langmead - Primary 3-7

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!