Trainee Spotlight | Martha Adnams - Primary 3-7

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!