Last night we held our annual awards celebration night for our current ITT trainees, be it virtually. What a year our trainee teachers have had! They have rose to the challenge in a truly inspirational way from start to finish. Teacher training is a challenging year in normal times but this year has obviously brought along new obstacles to hurdle.
As our newly qualified trainees set off on another year of unknown territory, we wish them well on their journeys. This year we have trained and qualified over 50 trainees who are now moving into local Primary and Secondary schools as newly qualified teachers.
Our ‘hot off the press’ 2019-20 moderation report praised our trainees in the highest regard saying ‘it is significantly apparent that the SCITT has been successful in recruiting and training aspiring teachers of real quality and commitment who, especially, during this unprecedented year have ‘stepped up’ to support their placement schools and pupils in every conceivable way possible. What is most remarkable is that it appears to be the case that the overwhelming majority of this year’s cohort has shown this level of commitment.’
This is what a couple of them had to say…
Georgia Ottewell, Primary trainee
‘What was good about my training was having a hands-on experience within a school and being there every week of each term to see how the full year runs. The children and staff at my placement school made me want to get out of bed in a morning – there was never a day and still is never a day I do not want to go into work.
My challenges included learning so much in a year and finding a work/life balance – I overcame these by creating myself a timetable and sticking to it. Teaching makes me feel wonderful because the children look up to you as their role model and you can help children be proud and believe in themselves. I chose KCSCITT because I did not want to spend weeks in lecture room learning about theories. I wanted real life experience with children in a classroom each week. I would 100% recommend the route to anyone, especially those who do not have much experience working within a school.’
Sam Smith. Secondary English trainee
‘Across the year I’ve had so many positive experiences it’s impossible to single any one or two out. However, far and away the best part of the year has been the fun of working with a range of students, being constantly reminded that we are all always learning. It is no bad thing for students and teachers to be learning together. I’ve taught and volunteered in a range of settings and, to my mind, there is nothing that offers the variety and energy of teaching in a secondary school (mainstream or otherwise).
There were difficulties, of course. Juggling academic essays, lesson planning and delivery, and the other challenges of everyday school life. However, I genuinely feel that at Kirklees and Calderdale SCITT we have had high quality support from the course leaders, tutors, and administrator. And from each other.
I would wholeheartedly recommend SCITT. It was ideal for me as I already had a lot of TA experience. Spending the overwhelming majority of the year in the classroom has been invaluable and has given me confidence of NQT success.’