By Julia Taylor
Teaching scholarships offer much more than just financial support. Here, career changer Julia Taylor describes her journey into teacher training, including winning a BCS computer science scholarship.
If I had a pound for every time someone asked me why on earth I would be mad enough to quit my secure, well-paid job in the NHS IT sector to become a computer science teacher, I would now be a very rich lady indeed!
Honestly, since picking up the phone and getting in touch with the Get into Teaching service almost a year ago it has been a whirlwind, full of ups and downs. I was very pleased to hear that career changers are more than welcome into teaching, and that their experience is valued.
My Teacher Training Adviser suggested that I apply to BCS (the Chartered Institute for IT) for a scholarship, and I was successful in getting through to the interview day in London. It was intimidating being the only woman in a room full of men who practically speak in binary! However, I did not let that dissuade me, put in my best effort and was lucky enough to be awarded a scholarship.
With the scholarship comes a whole heap of help and support, including educational resources and some really interesting webinars. I have found them invaluable during my training. It is also good to have a network of colleagues outside of my university and placement school who I can connect with and share advice and concerns with. I also know that the BCS Scholarships team are just a telephone call or email away, should I need them for advice.
I am not a typical trainee teacher — I have had an extensive career in IT and I am mother to two beautiful daughters. If I’m honest, at the end of my first placement I was not enjoying being a teacher. I felt like I had made a disastrous error and worried that all the people who thought I was mad for leaving my job were right. My plan was to just put my head down and tick the boxes, get through until July when the course finished and then look for a ‘proper’ job in a different profession.
However, since I began my second placement at Newcastle High School for Girls I have had an absolute change of heart. Thanks to the help and support of the wonderful computer science and ICT staff at the school, I now adore teaching.
Teaching is so rewarding. I am writing this sat at my desk bursting with pride, after watching my year nine class competing in a battle of the bands competition. What has that got to do with computer science you might ask. Well, we have spent the last six weeks coding some fantastic promotional band websites, creating logos, merchandise and promo clips. The cross-curricular links are amazing!
This rewarding feeling is something money cannot buy and no other job can give. So if anyone says you are mad for thinking about becoming a teacher, don’t listen to them!
Julia’s Teacher Training Adviser gave her the confidence to apply for teacher training and go for a scholarship. You can register for free advice on funding, your application and anything else, on the Get into Teaching website.
