Trainee Spotlight | Kristina Topic - Primary 5-11

Give a little background about your teaching career so far – how many years teaching, schools, age groups, subject specialisms, leadership roles…
My teaching career began as a teaching assistant in a village primary school and now I am a Year 3 teacher in a two-form entry all through school in Exeter! 

Why did you want to be a teacher?
I wanted to be a teacher when I met my favourite primary school teacher. I thought “I want to be just like you”. They didn’t just educate me or take me on an educational journey but they were so warm and inviting and motivated me to learn with them. I take this into my practice daily and enjoy seeing my children's faces smile when they enter my classroom or they’ve understood an objective or have independently completed a task.  

Why did you choose Exeter Consortium Schools’ Alliance as your training provider? 
I chose Exeter Consortium due to its holistic approach to teacher training. I wanted to train in the deep end! Getting into school was important to me, I am so pleased I took the SCITT route compared to University providers as I feel completely prepared as an ECT1.  

What were your favourite aspects of the course?
My favourite aspects were simply the real life application of what we are trained to do in GPS sessions and during placement. We could instantly start implementing behaviour management techniques. The GPS sessions have really stuck with me and shaped my practice as a teacher. I also work with other ExCo alumni and the practice I see with them is shaped from ExCo. 

Did you find Exeter Consortium to be supportive and welcoming?
100%. I personally had life events I was not expecting but the mentors were incredibly supportive in adapting to my needs.

Describe your time training to teach in three words...
Fun, exciting, interesting!

What advice would you give to prospective trainee teachers?
Nothing will compare to this year, it is so worth pushing through to the end and reap the rewards as it only gets better! You should be really proud of yourself for taking on this challenge, it isn’t easy, but it speaks volumes about the person you will be standing in front of your class of 30.