My School Experience
I decided to get some school experience primarily to confirm that being a secondary school teacher was the right career for me.
I’m currently converting my Foundation Degree to a BA Hons with The Open University, with the aim of applying for a training place for Secondary Design & Technology.
I contacted my local school — Howden School — to ask if it would be possible to go in on a regular basis, to observe and help. Within just a few days, the Head of Technology — James Stathers — had called me and invited me in to see him the following week.
On my first day, I met the teachers in the department and arranged to go in one morning a week. I have two young daughters so it really helped that the department was so flexible around my start times.
An average morning in school involves a mixture of observing lessons, and spending time with teachers, pupils and the department’s fabulous technician (and part-time teacher) Cheryl.
The department even runs a small business — Inky Fingers —printing photographs and designs onto products such as mugs and sports bags. Some of the pupils help with the running of the business and I have been lucky enough to see some of the orders being processed.
Each member of the department has a different skill set so I can learn something from all of them. They are all very supportive and help me wherever they can, often answering my endless list of questions!
Since starting my weekly visits in February, I have already had a real opportunity to experience what it would be like to be a Design & Technology teacher.
I have met various teachers, cover supervisors, teaching assistants and pastoral staff on my placement days and have found everyone to be welcoming and kind at the school.
I have enjoyed seeing how the department is run and it has been nice to have the chance to observe different lessons with different teachers and with students from different year groups and abilities.
On days when not as much teaching is happening within the department, I like to lend a hand with a broom, cleaning an area or making the staff a well-deserved cup of coffee.
My main advice to anyone thinking about getting school experience would be to go for it! What have you got to lose? I have gained a greater understanding of the issues within a school, increased my subject knowledge and gained valuable hours of experience, which will only serve to strengthen my teacher training application.
If you are prepared to roll your sleeves up, get a little dirty, and get stuck in then you will be fine.
You can find out more about how to get school experience on the Get Into Teaching website.
