Sophie Wardlow: Primary SCITT Trainee 2021/22
"The team who run the course are fabulous."
Sophie Wardlow, SCITT trainee.
We were lucky enough to chat with Sophie, one of our primary SCITT trainees about her first term of teacher training with the Sheffield SCITT. It was an absolute delight to hear how much she is enjoying the course and the children she teaches!
“I think we forget how resilient children are and how quickly they adapt. Covid knocked them prior to me starting this term, especially with them having so much home learning and being in bubbles. However, the way they have come straight back into ‘normal’ learning and back to a full classroom or different dinner routines. Well, it’s just fabulous.”
I have a BA in Acting for Stage and Media. I did acting and performance for a lot of my life. Then, I moved back up North and did a lot of work for a company called Brathay Trust with young offenders, children pre and post bereaved, care leavers, SEN children as well as a lot of youth work for a considerable amount of time.
I'm teaching Primary at Brockwell Nursery and Infants at present.
What made you decide to train to become a teacher?
I decided to go down the education route to get a qualification that would support me going forwards so that I could either work as a primary teacher or do similar work and combine both degrees to do art or drama therapy.Heading
What qualities do you have that you think will help you in the teaching profession?
I'm really fun and have a good sense of humour which certainly helps and the students can easily relate to and bounce off. I'm organised so that equally helps a lot with the amount of prep and planning that needs to be done behind the scenes. I'm quite good under pressure as well, so improvising when needed and putting on the 'actor - teacher' is certainly a bonus
Did you get any school experience before starting?
My experience is more youth work and peer support. I did have the odd placements in schools and I did also do some drug education in schools as well as quite a bit of TIE work. However, I'd say nothing really as formal as teaching and planning to the degree I am now.
How has your first term of teacher training been?
Amazing! Don't get me wrong, you do have the odd day where you feel like breaking down but you pick yourself up and realise that's just what a year's course to do both QTS and a PGCE is! BUT, the class I'm with are incredible, my mentor has been fabulous and the school I'm at is so lovely! (Maybe they'll have a job going when / if I get to finally qualify! Ha ha!)
What responsibilities and tasks have you taken part in at your placement school?
Well, I'm teaching quite a lot now which is ace! I also help with any children with behavioural needs, listen to readers, assist with the lower graspers. All sorts really. The school have picked up on my love for art and performance as well. So, I feel that maybe they'll be calling on me to assist with their Christmas concert.
What are your favourite aspects of the course so far?
Definitely being in the school. I've never been one for being brilliant with academic work, so, this was rather daunting. But, it's part of the course and I'm sure will be worth it in the end!
Have you found the SCITT to be supportive and welcoming?
Yes - hugely. The team who run the course are fabulous.
What are your aspirations for the future once you are a qualified teacher?
I'd love to teach KS1 or as mentioned, go on to combine my teaching degree with my artistic background and maybe go into drama therapy or something similar. I certainly wouldn't say no if my current placement school had a job going!
Has anything surprised you since starting in the classroom?
The children. They're amazing! I think we forget how resilient children are and how quickly they adapt. Covid knocked them prior to me starting this term, especially with them having so much home learning and being in bubbles. However, the way they have come straight back into 'normal' learning and back to a full classroom or different dinner routines. Well, it's just fabulous.
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