Over the coming weeks we will be doing a series showcasing the incredible impact our Graduates are having in schools as part of our Step into Teaching programme. This week we have Brad!
Brad is a talented graduate who came to i-teachers looking for a role in which he could gain some classroom experience before embarking on teacher training. We found him a fantastic role as an English Teaching Assistant at a great Secondary School in November 2020! We recently got in touch with Brad to have a chat and see how he was getting on in his placement.
What does your day-to-day role involve?
In terms of his day-to-day role, Brad is based in the English department and provides support to students in several different ways. “I spend most of my time working in the classroom providing extra support to individual students during lesson time. This can include helping them to read or assist with their writing skills”. Brad is also in charge of a project based around a literacy-based website/app for basic reading skills – “this involves me providing extra support to lower level students by taking them out of class and supervising their sessions as well as giving feedback to them and to members of the English department”. He is also involved in running after school interventions with groups of students and generally helping the teachers with any tasks.
How is your role preparing you for your future career?
Brad is starting his teacher training in September and believes that his role as hugely prepared him for his future career. “I knew that I wanted to teach English for a while but working in a school has really consolidated this for me. I have had the opportunity to work with children which is experience I would not have otherwise. I’ve even been given the opportunity to teach parts on English lessons and to prep for after school interventions which I think is invaluable”. Brad also believes that he has had the opportunity to observe and take in teaching skills from every teacher he has worked with which will be extremely helpful going forward in his teaching career.
How was your experience working with i-teachers?
“Working with i-teachers was a great experience. My consultant Holly has kept in touch with me throughout the whole process to see how I’m getting on which has been really supportive”.
What advice would you give to someone looking for or starting a role like yours?
Brad’s main advice would be to ‘get stuck in!’. From his personal experience, Brad has found that getting stuck in and taking advantage of any opportunities has been the best way to make the most of his role. “Just really go for it! Have the confidence to bring something to the role – bring in your own ideas, ask colleagues how you can help and find your niche. Also, take time to really observe teaching techniques – I have learned so much from a certain teacher that I would not have learned elsewhere!”.
Brad’s testimonial is another great demonstration of what our ‘step into teaching’ programme is all about. There are so many options when it comes to teacher training that it can be confusing choosing which path to take. You may not want to commit to a teaching career when you have never experienced life as a teacher. This is where our ‘step into teaching’ programme comes in. Our experienced consultants place graduates in a paid teaching assistant position perfectly suited to your skill set, in a school that suits your personality. i-teachers’ friendly consultants are always with you every step of the way!