NQTs: all the essential information you need
If you’re keen to get your NQT year off on the right foot, Tes has a whole load of helpful advice.
And we’ve put together some of the best bits to help you get started:
1. The latest research and pedagogy
All those terms and theories you wrote about in your training year may feel distant now, but this is the time to apply that knowledge.
If you’re in need of a refresh, check out our research and pedagogy hub for the latest theories and ideas.
If you’re in need of a refresh, check out our pedagogy guide for detailed information on the essentials of classroom pedagogy, teaching theory and teaching styles.
For more specific advice on the essential tools of the classroom, take a look at our guides to must-know elements such as retrieval practice or Teach Like a Champion.
2. Get involved with the community
The great thing about teaching is that once you join the profession, it’s like being part of huge extended (and global) family.
And they love to talk teaching!
For support and advice, your first stop should be the Tes Forums. If you’re already on Facebook, there are many excellent subject specific and phase specific teaching groups on there, including our Tes Teaching and Learning Facebook Group.
And if Twitter is your social media app of choice, follow @tes, as well as searching out the smaller groups for your subject or phase: for example, most English teachers use #teamenglish and Primary #primaryrocks.
3. Stay up to date
The education world can feel like it moves at an alarming rate, especially when you’ve got countless acronyms and abbreviations to remember.
Luckily, our Tes podcasts can keep you up to date on everything you need to know.
There’s the Tes News Podcast, covering the week in education; the Podgagogy podcast, which takes a critical look at important issues in education; and subject-specific English and Maths podcasts, as well as leadership and behaviour podcasts...subscribe to them all by searching for “Tes” wherever you get your podcasts, or by going through the Tes podcast hub.
4. Think about your next steps
You’ve landed your first job and that’s great. But that doesn’t mean you should stop thinking about your next steps in your career.
There will probably come a time when any further development will require a change of role, whether that is within your current school or elsewhere.
If you’re planning a move, this is your career plan for the coming year.
Get more advice from our Careers Advice page.
5. Know your rights
As well as taking care of your career, it’s worth taking some time to think about the world outside of the school gates.
Our blogs provide advice from explanations to teaching pensions, to a guide to teacher maternity and paternity rights.
We’ve also got the need-to-know numbers on statutory rights for teachers, as well as tips on how to look after your wellbeing. You may have already joined a union in your training year but, if not, we have all you need to know in our guide to unions.
6. The who, what, when of exams
Despite most teachers having been through the education system themselves, it doesn’t mean that you’ll know it inside out.
After all, few students understand how exam boards, grade boundaries and Ofqual work.
Luckily for you, we’ve got the answers. We go through the major exam boards like Edexcel and AQA here, and can explain how grade boundaries work, and, for those in the primary phase, we have a breakdown of what goes on with SAT papers.
You can find more exam-related news on our dedicated exams and assessment hub.
