Katie Hornby

How has your training prepared you for your teaching role?

Being in the classroom full time, and having the different placements, has helped me to understand what I need to do in that classroom: how to build relationships, manage behaviour and handle the paperwork. Having my mentor in the school has helped me adapt my learning. Having those expert colleagues around me while training has really helped my practice.

How are you feeling now that you’re graduating?

I’m so excited, so pleased. I didn’t think I’d get to this point at the beginning of my training. I was quite self-critical. But I’m so proud of myself, and hopefully my family are too. 

How are you feeling looking ahead to the new school year?

I’m grateful that I’ve been offered a job at my placement school. I know the school, I know the behaviour policy, I know the staff. I’m excited to get to know a new cohort of 32 children and to learn the new curriculum as I go along.

What aspects of teaching do you think will be most challenging?

I think it’s going to be tricky getting to know those 32 children, working out what needs adapting for them, and building those new relationships, because I built such good relationships with my last cohort. Making sure behaviour management is secure will take time too. I think that will be a bit tricky at the beginning.

Watch Katie's learner story