Emily Fisher - Secondary Biology Trainee
“The progress made between September and late January is almost incomparable. I feel like I have gone from a fumbling toddler, nervous and apprehensive about everything, to a confident research informed trainee teacher.”
Emily Fisher, Secondary Biology Trainee
Have you always wanted to become a teacher? What made you decide you wanted to get into teaching?
I realised I wanted to be a teacher in my final years of secondary education. I wanted to become a teacher because of the supportive relationship I developed with my English teacher. She noticed I was struggling when others didn’t, she supported me and believed in me when I felt no one did. The love and support she showed me during school was the reason I left with qualifications. I want to ensure all students feel secure and supported in their education and make sure that all students achieve their greatest potential. Every child deserves to do their best, but not every child knows how.
What were you most nervous about when joining the Sheffield SCITT?
My confidence was a real concern for me at the start of the course, I struggled with performance anxiety and stage fright. This was very quickly squashed by the amazing support of my mentor and the SCITT program. I still get nervous occasionally, but I have the tools to work through it and appear cool, calm and collected.
How do you balance your training/work with your day to day life outside of teaching?
There is a negative relationship around teachers and working unhealthy hours. Teacher guilt is real, and I do catch myself overworking, teachers are perfectionists by nature. The teachers around me have a sixth sense for imminent burn out and regularly encourage having a night off or a trip to the pub to decompress. I have also formed strong friendships with my cohort and once a week we meet up and have laugh for a few hours, do check ins with each other and generally support and look out for each other.
Favourite aspects of the course so far?
SCITT has been everything I wanted and more. Being in school from day 1, learning how to teach from experienced teachers in your subject, building meaningful relationships and support networks within departments is something I fail to see possible in a university setting. The Hub sessions each week are a real highlight to my week, it offers opportunities to develop theories and then implement them in our teaching, it is also a relief to be in a room with other trainees who are in the exact same position as you, as well as the social aspect.
The support I have received from everyone around me (mentors, host teachers, SCITT organisers, colleagues, fellow trainees) highlights the decision I made to train to be a teacher through SCITT was the right one.
How do you feel you have improved since starting in September?
The progress made between September and late January is almost incomparable. The idea of teaching 9 hours a week seemed impossible in September but that’s what we’re doing currently. I feel like I’ve gone from a fumbling toddler, nervous and apprehensive about everything, to a confident research informed trainee teacher.
How do you find the hub days? Is there anything in particular you enjoy?
I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that hub days are the highlight of my week. Each week we learn a new concept which we can incorporate into our teaching and reflect on. The sessions are always presented by enthusiastic teachers, so sessions are very exciting and interactive, plus the tea and biscuits are always a winner. It’s also the one day a week all the trainees are together, it gives us opportunity to talk about our weeks, unload, ask for help, share tips, and generally have a laugh. SCITT also take the opportunity to pop in and see how we’re doing, I can’t express enough just how important hub days are for my development and general well-being as a trainee teacher.