Why did you decide to teach?
Before deciding to teach, I was a child protection social worker. I did that for about five years, in Essex and then Lancashire, working with children with disabilities, before working in Skipton. I’d always wanted to work with young people – in that regard social work and teaching are not dissimilar. Teaching was always something I’d thought about. Teaching feels like a place where I can spend more time with the young people, actually giving something to them and helping them to be the best they can be.  It feels like teaching gives me more time to do that. I did my degree in German and Russian at Oxford and I have missed my languages since I left university. I have wanted to get back to my languages and bring the excitement of language learning to others. Teaching gives me a chance to use my languages everyday.

Why did you choose to train with Northern Lights?
It can be complicated applying for teaching, so Get into Teaching supported me with my application. I applied to a School Direct, SCITT and university-led training option and then decided which suited me best.  I chose Northern Lights because I’d heard good things about it. As soon as I was in contact with Northern Lights, everything felt well organised and they really knew what they were doing. They organised school experience for me; the interview was really well planned; they  introduced me to trainees who were already on the course, so I could hear what it was like first hand. It all felt really well put together.

What have you found most rewarding about teaching?
It is a steep learning curve, which I expected, and I have felt really well guided towards being a good teacher.  That has been down to the SCITT team and also my mentor. They really help you to improve in concrete and practical ways. I feel like I am on a journey and I am making progress.The pandemic has made the year unusual. It’s has been challenging even for experienced teachers.  For us, it’s all we have known as new teachers so maybe that’s helped.  The different ways of teaching online have demanded lots of different strategies and that has been really useful.

What’s your advice to anyone starting to train to teach?
It's all about your passion for your subject.  If you really enjoy your subject, there is no better way of developing and sharing that passion than teaching. Get into schools and get experience – although that’s hard at the moment. If you’re unsure about working with young people, look for volunteering opportunities to see if you like it. You need to love working with young people to be a teacher.

Why did you decide to teach?

Before I joined the training programme, I had worked in school for almost nine years, first as SEN support and then as a higher level teaching assistant. I had covered for teachers, and always knew that I wanted to become a teacher myself when the time was right. I set myself a challenge to start the training – and now I have!

Before I worked in school, I worked in finance roles in the travel industry, but I always knew that teaching was where I wanted to be.

The best part of the training so far is that I am getting experience in different schools. It is surprising just how different they can be. All my experience previously, as a teaching assistant, had been in a large urban primary; now I am getting a very different experience in a small village school. I am working with a mixed age group of children. It presents different challenges and enables you to gather different ideas. It’s a big learning curve.

Why did you choose to train with Northern Lights?

The school where I was a teaching assistant is also part of the multi-academy trust linked to Northern Lights. My headteacher was very supportive and helped me a lot.

I went to a talk with someone from the Northern Lights team and I liked the sound of the programme. I was also fortunate to win a place on the salaried programme.

What have you found most rewarding about teaching?

At my placement school, the children make me laugh so much. They’re the
best part. Every day flies by. I never wake up thinking “oh no, it’s work”. I look forward to getting to school – the children are what it’s all about.

What’s your advice to anyone starting to train to teach?

Do it!  Be prepared for the hard work. It’s not just the teaching and planning – there is other work to do to complete the programme. But if you’re well organised, you’ll get through it. Stay on top of the work load. I have lots of lists!

Why did you decide to teach?

Whilst I was at secondary school, I did some work experience in a nursery. I immediately thought: “this is where I should be”.

I went to college and gathered qualifications in early years work. I knew from the placements I completed that I had made the right decision. I started my career in nurseries, enjoyed it, and decided I wanted more.

I knew then that teaching was the way forward for me. I carried on working in early years and went back to college part time. I gained a BA Hons degree and re-took my maths GCSE – and here I am! It took a long time – but the end goal was worth it.

Over the years, I have come across the most amazing inspirational teachers. They’re creative and challenging. I knew I wanted to be part of that education team.

Why did you choose to train with Northern Lights?

I wanted a school-based programme, so Northern Lights fitted that requirement.

I also knew quite a few people who had experience of working with Northern Lights, and I had heard good things. I knew people who had worked with Northern Lights and seen them progress to successful roles now. So it was a no-brainer really.

What have you found most rewarding about teaching?

Some of the conversations you can have with three and four year olds are amazing. The way they think and see the world is so fresh. It constantly challenges your thinking.

My best day so far was when I was teaching maths to a class. We were working on a tricky concept and when they started to work independently I could see that they had really understood what I had been teaching. It was a real breakthrough moment. It felt amazing.

When you see the learning happening, it’s special.

What’s your advice to anyone starting to train to teach?

Talk to people. Be open. Develop your networks. The Northern Lights trainees feel like a family, and there is always someone to turn to. Be organised……but expect the unexpected. Children always surprise you!

Why did you decide to teach?

I studied for my first degree and master’s in chemistry. I knew that I didn’t want to work in a scientific laboratory setting. I wanted a career that involved working with people much more closely. At the same time, I loved my subject, so I looked for something that would enable me to share it with others. Teaching was the answer.

During my undergraduate course, I worked in a secondary school as part of  a “chemistry in schools” module. I observed lessons and worked with a sixth form group on their chemistry projects. It stretched me, but I thought then that a career in teaching could be right for me.

Why did you choose to train with Northern Lights?

I did my research and Northern Lights looked like the best programme for my requirements. There is a lot of information online and it appeared very well structured and organised. I also like that it is school based; that was important to me.

What have you found most rewarding about teaching?

I knew it would be tough to start when you suddenly have a class for the first time, but it has been great fun too. It has been really interesting observing lessons, seeing how teachers use different techniques to engage students, and how they adapt their approaches for get the best from pupils.

When the children really respond to a lesson you have planned then it gives you a real buzz. You feel you are building good relationships with the class so that everyone can learn  – me too.

It is challenging getting your head around everything you need to do. There is a lot to juggle. But I now plan out my whole week ahead and keep notes for everything so that I can stay on top of it all.

What’s your advice to anyone starting to train to teach?

Just do it. You can get so much from teaching. It is not like any other job. Every day is different. It sounds such a cliché – but it’s true. It can be tiring – but so is any job.