James Morris: Primary SCITT Trainee 2021/22
"Staying positive enables all pupils to develop a passion for learning and, as a result, assists greatly in the prevention of undesired, disruptive behaviour. "
James Morris, Primary SCITT trainee.
James, one of our primary SCITT Trainees discusses his experience of teacher training during his first term - covering the responsibilities in the classroom, his aspirations for his future career and the impact that the power of positivity has in the classroom!
My degree is in Business and Human Resource Management; it will therefore come as a surprise that I am developing my career as a Primary Teacher. I am currently placed at Dore Primary School, working in KS1 with a Year 2 class.
“What has been evident to me so far is the importance of effective teamwork in schools. I have always thrived when working in a team and have come to recognise the importance of working to people’s strengths. People are full of unique experiences and knowledge, which should be taken advantage of to create a diverse and open learning environment. ”
I first discovered a love for teaching when I volunteered at my local primary school during the final year of my studies. Teaching always appealed to me as a rewarding career, but I did not anticipate the level of joy and positivity that an enthusiasm for learning can provide for teachers and pupils alike.
What has been evident to me so far is the importance of effective teamwork in schools. I have always thrived when working in a team and have come to recognise the importance of working to people’s strengths. People are full of unique experiences and knowledge, which should be taken advantage of to create a diverse and open learning environment.
Before starting the SCITT, I was lucky enough to have a wide range of experiences in education. After graduating, I worked as a teaching assistant for a popular education employment agency, who were excellent in finding me a range of roles to build my knowledge and skills as a prospective teacher. The varying type of roles, most particularly SEN and PRU, provided me with an insight into not only the rewards of teaching, but the many challenges that need to be overcome.
From there, I secured a job as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) at a large three-form-entry primary school in Sheffield. The majority of the role was whole class teaching to cover the PPA time of teachers. This included taking responsibility of classes for full school days; I learnt the importance of developing professional relationships with children, the timing of the school day and how to plan effectively. My experience as a HLTA was pivotal in my decision to progress to be a class teacher.
How has your first term of teacher training been? Have you found the SCITT to be supportive and welcoming?
Excellent!
I was initially apprehensive to take on the next stage of my career after experiencing some of the challenges of teaching first-hand and due to concerns of the rising pressures teachers are facing, particularly during the effects of the pandemic.
I am training through the Sheffield SCITT and more specifically through LTSA. Right from the first day in September, I was made to feel not only welcome, but highly valued as a prospective teacher. The SCITT’s mission is clear in creating highly trained, resilient teachers who are equipped with the skills to tackle the challenges in education and can make a real difference to the progress of children through quality first teaching. As one of those students, I can say this has been my experience so far and I have been provided with:
-A supportive mentor who is not only an excellent teacher, but is knowledgeable and highly supportive of all aspects of my training
-An expert course tutor, who is passionate about every trainee’s development
-A supportive community of peers during ‘Hub’ training sessions
-Enriching curriculum days at St Catherine’s
-A well-chosen provider of the PGCE in Hull university
What responsibilities and tasks have you taken part in at your placement school?
I have been provided with many opportunities to take on responsibilities including participation in school trips and sporting events. I have been teaching a daily phonics intervention since October in anticipation for the phonics screening check. This has been great for my development, as Phonics was an area I identified to improve on during my teaching practice.
What are your favourite aspects of the course so far?
As a SCITT trainee, you start at your placement school in September. In my opinion, this is a brilliant feature of the course. I have been able to build positive relationships with pupils from day one and have been given the opportunities to contribute to their progress. Another aspect of the course which I find to work well are the weekly training sessions. These allow you to ask questions when they arise, rather than accumulate, and keep you in close contact with the course leader who is supportive to individual needs.
What are your aspirations for the future once you are a qualified teacher?
I am looking forward to starting my career as a teacher and building on the progress I have made so far- thanks to the opportunities provided to me. Teaching is a profession which involves life-long learning and I particularly enjoy gaining a deeper knowledge and understanding of a topic from the colleagues and pupils around me.
Has anything surprised you since starting in the classroom?
One thing which has pleasantly surprised me so far is the impact positivity can have on learning. It is something that sounds obvious, but when applied in the classroom, the impacts on progress are profound. Staying positive enables all pupils to develop a passion for learning and, as a result, assists greatly in the prevention of undesired, disruptive behaviour.
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