Jess Whelan - Secondary PE Trainee

Jess is one of our Secondary PE trainees, and we asked her the burning questions about her training year so far.

From preparing for her training to how to stay organised… we have it all covered in the interview below.

Have you always wanted to become a teacher? What made you decide you wanted to get into teaching?

I have always known that I wanted a career in sport and fitness however my route into teaching has not been a straightforward path.

 Of course, as a PE teacher, I have always been utterly captivated by sport and exercise since a young age, however there are multiple reasons which confirmed that teaching was for me.

I take huge inspiration from my PE teachers at high school who made the subject so exciting and engaging every single lesson. These experiences confirmed that I wanted to be this person for the next generation. I want to play a part in the physical, mental and social development of children’s lives. Also, PE can be an extremely daunting subject, particularly for girls, and so I want to be that safe and supportive teacher who the pupils can rely on and recognise my belief in them to excel, like I experienced.

I completed my undergraduate degree in Psychology which got me hugely interested in the psychological aspects of sport which then led me to completing my master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology. I knew that this degree would facilitate my practice in being able to understand why my students may feel the way they do in PE and sport.

My grandad was a PE teacher who then progressed to become deputy head. Sadly, he died before I ever got to meet him, however I have always felt a fire to continue in his footsteps and build on his legacy.

What is one thing you wish you knew before starting your teacher training?

To not take feedback from teachers personally. I won’t be the first to admit that at the beginning of my training I was trying so hard to be that ‘perfect’ teacher which to be honest, is pretty impossible! Your mentor and host teachers are highly experienced people who have spent years developing their practice to be how they are today. The feedback they give you is not there to put you down but is there to facilitate your growth as a teacher and is always done with the best intentions. It’s also really important to remember that every teacher has a different style of teaching and so what works for them might not work for you and vice versa.

What responsibilities/tasks have you taken on so far in your training?

I’ve attended many school sports team tournaments, supported lunchtime duties, helped create displays, and taken charge of a form group. The list goes on…

I have also been lucky enough to start a dance club for pupils in KS4 and above to provide them with high quality dance training that will prepare them for performance college or university.

What kind of planning/preparing did you do before your training year started? Did you do any reading/researching, school experience?

I did a week of work experience in a PE department at a secondary school which confirmed that teaching was the career for me.

How have you been managing your workload? Especially when PGCE assignments are due? Do you have any tips/tricks?

I’d be lying if I said I’d not learnt the hard way. Plan your assignments very early on. It’s so easy to get distracted in planning lessons and forget that you have assignments due in as well. Writing a paragraph every week will reduce the last-minute stress.

How do you balance your training/work with your day to day life outside of teaching?

I try to be consistent with my hours I spend working. For example, if I come to school early, I’ll not stay at school longer than needed. Similarly, if I know that I have tournaments/ meetings or training after school, I won’t come in early. I find this gives me the time to do my hobbies such as go to the gym, so I still have time for myself and stops me from burning out.

How do you find the hub days? Is there anything in particular you enjoy?

I LOVE the hub days! The sessions are so informative, and I get to spend the day with the other trainees (we’re all so close). Having the session on the Wednesday not only splits the week up, but allows me to put new knowledge into practice the following days, definitely facilitating my training. I also love the subject specific sessions in the afternoons which provide an intensive period of learning that is relevant to your specific subject.

Favourite aspects of the course so far?

Being completely immersed in the school experience from day one. Leaving my first placement I honestly felt like a staff member at Notre Dame and that is thanks to being treated like a teacher from the beginning. I’ve also formed so many positive relationships with the pupils and I’m so proud to have seen and been a role in the development of some student’s school experience.

What are you most looking forward to in your teaching career?

Making it my daily mission to make someone else’s day better, whether that be student or staff.

Best piece of advice for anyone hesitant about training to teach with the Sheffield SCITT?

Just do it. I can’t explain how good this course is. Unlike the university route, you are in your placement school from day one which allows you to immerse yourself in the school, develop strong student-teacher relationships, and truly be recognised as a teacher rather than a trainee. The staff involved with the course are such lovely people with a vast amount of experience. You’re being trained by the best.