Trainee Spotlight | Joshua Brown - Primary 5-11

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.