Tell us about you, why you opted for a career in education, and why you chose to study with Tes Institute
I didn’t have a great experience when I was in primary school. When my own children went to school I started working as a TA after training. As my children got older, I realised I wanted more from my career and I wanted to set a good example to my children. I started my degree aged 45 and knew I wanted to make a difference to children’s lives.
Tes Institute offered training in school to gain the experience needed to further my career. I loved working at my school as a TA, and I was lucky enough to secure a place there to complete my training.
Were you familiar with Tes before you applied? If so, what did you use Tes for before? If not, what was it about Tes Institute that stood out for you?
I was familiar with Tes as other colleagues had taken the same route into teaching. As Tes Institute training is tailored to the classroom, I knew this was the preferred route for me.
How did you find the application process?
The application process was easy and the interview was conducted by a very approachable teacher. I found out at the end of the interview that I had been successful so I knew straight away.
How has this course supported your professional development and career goal?
Many topics in my ECT training were covered in my training year enabling me to build upon my training rather than learning things from scratch.
The delivery of the course was very well thought out. I had a day per week to focus on my online training and half a day in school to observe colleagues, alongside other training activities.
What did you enjoy about how the course is delivered?
I very much enjoyed seeing my pathway tutor each term who was always contactable by phone. She was always there to reassure me and to support me with my teaching development. My school mentor was absolutely fantastic too.
If others were thinking about a pathway to teaching, I would recommend Tes Institute as the training provides a hands-on experience and a thorough programme.
What types of support did you receive as a Tes Institute learner and how has this helped you progress?
Although the training was full on, I feel I had the best support through the course from all members. They were always available if I needed them.
