Kelsey Taylor, Primary SCITT trainee 2019/20
"You don't realise how brilliant you are until your start your training. Studying with the Sheffield SCITT has improved my confidence."
Kelsey Taylor, reveals how training with The Sheffield SCITT has been a very positive experience.
Which school have you secured a job?
I have secured a job at Our Lady of Sorrows (in Armthorpe, Doncaster)
What subject will you teach?
The year group I will be teaching in is year 3
When did you start to apply for jobs?
I started to look for jobs around January time and start applying mid Jan to February time. There are many website which you can search for jobs including GOV website, or even diocese of Hallam. Applying for the interview may seem lengthy but it’s your time to shine and show the employers what you have to offer. After going for the interview at Our Lady’s I was nervous but the staff made me feel relaxed and it was a great experience. On the 13th February I successfully secured the job.
“Training to be a teacher with the Sheffield SCITT has been very rewarding. I have received regular support from mentor while in placement who are always on hand to answer any questions I may have and give regular feedback.”
How have you found your training year with The Sheffield SCITT?
Training to be a teacher with the Sheffield SCITT has been very rewarding. I have received regular support from mentor while in placement who are always on hand to answer any questions I may have and give regular feedback. The training sessions at the hub are interactive and teach different topics every week including: planning, pupil premium, EAL etc. They are valuable to attend and I always leave the sessions with current research or ideas which I want to implement into practice.
Personal highlights?
I guess believing in myself and adapting to a different key stage. Before I started the course I had only ever worked in early years settings with the occasional experience in ks1. When starting my teacher training, my main home school placement was in year 6, which did worry me. I had no experience in year 6, and I didn't know how I would teach the older pupils. However this soon changed, within the first few days of teaching and I would now never look back.
Everyone on the course are really friendly and each week I particularly look forward to meeting my friends and chat about what we have been up to as well as sharing ideas. I would advise anyone to not think twice about training to be a teacher with Sheffield SCITT, because it has definitely made me a more confident person and ready to teach.
What did you find most challenging?
I guess believing in myself and adapting to a different key stage. Before I started the course I had only ever worked in early years settings with the occasional experience in ks1. When starting my teacher training, my main home school placement was in year 6, which did worry me. I had no experience in year 6, and I didn't know how I would teach the older pupils. However this soon changed, within the first few days of teaching and I would now never look back.
Any tips for future teacher trainees?
For any future trainee teachers I would recommend just relaxing. Sometimes the workload might get too much or you might feel like you have various responsibilities but you do need time for yourself. So take a break, go for a walk and have a drink. You deserve it! Also the training year goes so fast, so make the most of every training session you get offered, feedback from people and the whole experience.
Did the training put you in good stead for applying for teaching positions and going to interviews?
Most definitely. You don't realise how brilliant you are until your start your training. Studying with the Sheffield SCITT has improved my confidence. I have had plenty of teaching opportunities, had many opportunities to observe practice and been given regular feedback to improve my practice. In terms of applying for jobs the course has provided many workshops to practice answering interview questions, what to expect and it makes you more at ease speaking to others who have been through the experience. Don't panic about interviews, they give you experience and are really valuable.
