Thinking of a career in teaching?

Thinking about a teaching career? Headteacher Paul Stone of Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training shares some advice. Teacher Training

1        Get an insight into teaching. It’s not just about visiting schools. Try and shadow teachers at work as well. Look at all the aspects of the job. It’s not just about what happens in the classroom. Go to their PPA sessions, see how they plan teaching. You need to see the mechanics of it. Teaching is a bit like looking at an iceberg. Most people see just the classroom facing aspect of the work – not the hours spent planning and marking and professional development. Some people who come into teaching don’t think beyond the classroom and then they realise that they can’t sustain it. You need to know that the job will fit with you first. We’re giving prospective teachers the opportunity to visit our schools to see all these aspects of teaching and we hope it will be valuable.

2        Read children’s books. Read children’s fiction. If you are teaching literacy and don’t know the books, particularly in the junior phase, then you will be at a disadvantage. By Key Stage 2 there are novels to read. If you don’t know them then it will be difficult to be able to plan and teach literacy.

3        Be aware of developments. The education sector is going through what is probably the greatest period of change in 70 years. The way schools are controlled is changing, with the growth of academies that are no longer controlled by local councils. Then there are curriculum changes and initiatives to support kids from poor families, such as the pupil premium and many other important policy changes that will affect how teachers teach. Read up about these developments in the specialist education media (such as the TES) and the national press so you become familiar with your chosen sector.

4        Don’t get hung up on terminology when choosing a teacher training course. Focus on the training and support you will receive and the experience of teaching that a programme will give you. Teaching is a highly skilled profession which can’t be learned just from lecture hall theory because schools are such fast changing places today. And it’s not a job that can be learned ‘on the job’. Look for a programme that focuses on practical classroom experience with a strong supporting element of theory. Most importantly, make sure that you will be closely supported throughout your training and first years of teaching by an experienced teacher mentor. Their support will be invaluable. This is the approach we have taken with our new School Direct teacher training programme.

5        Think about your lifestyle. Teaching is more of a lifestyle choice than a job. It’s worth it because it is so enormously rewarding. Working with children is such a privilege. They’re the most optimistic and wonderful people you could hope to spend your working days with. But the job will have an impact on your life outside of school. There will be marking to do in the evenings and Sundays will become planning time. It’s a big job, but the rewards are incredible.

6        Consider your career ambitions. Today there are opportunities to progress up the career ladder if you are ambitious and able so if you are looking for a school based teacher training provider find out what career path would be open to you after you qualify as a teacher. For me and my colleagues at Inspiring Leaders Teacher Training we think it is vital that there is a clear career path for ambitious people. We offer teacher training and then courses for people aspiring to more senior roles and headship. We think it’s important to give people an obvious route to school leadership roles because it really motivates people to do their best and it keeps the best people in the profession.

Paul Stone is headteacher at Kibworth CE Primary School in Leicestershire. Kibworth and Candleby Lane School in Nottinghamshire have together established Inspiring Leaders, a partnership offering training and development programmes for teachers and school leaders. The partnership has just become a teacher training provider and opens recruitment to its new School Direct course in September 2014. Further details are at www.inspiringleaderstoday.com/teacher-training​.

Graduate Profile of the Month

jonathan_breeJuly’s profile is Jonathan Bree. Jonathan graduated in 2013 with a BA in Industrial Design & Technology. He is now a Supporting Industrial Designer at LEGO, Denmark.

Your background:

From a young age, I have been interested in design – taking apart household items, trying to improve them and see how they worked, much to the joy of my parents. At sixth form, I studied Product Design, Art, Psychology and Media. This helped me focus and refine my interests and Industrial Design seemed like a perfect fit – part art, part science, balancing form and function. Loughborough’s reputation, as one of the leading design universities and strong links with industry, drove my decision to study there. Loughborough provided a great chance for personal growth and I joined the Hazlerigg Rutland committee, started my own t-shirt company, and took up several new sports in my time there. I also spent the third year working in industry, designing branding and packaging for the major spirits brands.

Where are you now?

I am currently working at LEGO HQ in Denmark, designing the concept and experience of the LEGO ‘House’ Project. The House experience will consist of a series of interactive exhibits and activities in an equal balance between play, learning and creativity, to showcase the ‘hands on, minds on’ play of LEGO. It is expected to draw 250,000 visitors per year.

How did you get there?

I found out about the position at LEGO through my department’s career emails, which asked for a portfolio of work to be sent to the department head for short-listing. I was lucky enough to be selected, and a month later I had a Skype interview. My placement year also greatly helped with finding a job after graduation by giving prior experience in a design and project management role.

Where are you going?

I have recently been accepted onto the Telefonica/O2 Graduate scheme and will start work in September, which I am very excited about. I will be focused in the area of design and innovation and have the opportunity to choose my own role. Over the course of two years I will work in different areas of the business, including Wayra, the technology start-up accelerator.

What advice would you give now to a student studying your subject at university now?

Structure your time well, make plans and stick to them. I recommend doing a year in industry, I found it very helpful. Lastly, when lecturers say final year is a lot of work, they are understating it – prepare as much as possible

For more profiles click here

Get CV advice

molly_dogDon’t end up like Molly Dog

Come and see an adviser, who can give you help and advice on your CV, don’t struggle by yourself!

During the vacation we even offer telephone and email advice, so don’t worry if you are no longer in Loughborough

See website for details

Graduate Profile of the Month

June’s profile is Daniel O’Flynn. Daniel graduated in 2013 with a MChem Chemistry. He is now studying for a PhD in Chemical Synthesis in Bristol Universities Centre for Doctoral Training (BCS CDT)

 

Where are you now?

I am now doing a PhD in Chemical Synthesis in Bristol Universities Centre for Doctoral Training (BCS CDT). This is a slightly different PhD program to the conventional PhD route.  It involves an initial seven month training period prior to starting a PhD project.  In the training period I have been able to carry out three 7-week lab rotations in different research groups. This has allowed me to gain experience with new equipment, new chemistry and new techniques that I was previously unfamiliar with. Additionally, it also involves a lecture course, tutorial and workshop sessions, problem sessions, presentations in journal club, and brainstorming potential PhD projects. I am now coming to the end of the seven month training period and will be starting my PhD project in mid-April.

How did you get there?

During my industrial placement year I received an email about the Chemical Synthesis CDT at Bristol and was instantly interested.  The advantages over the conventional PhD route were obvious to me.  Carrying out three lab rotations in different research groups sounded like a great way to start at a new university, allowing me to meet the supervisors/research groups and get a feeling for the place.  I could then make an informed decision about which PhD supervisor/project I will  choose for the next three and half years. The Careers and Employability Centre and my personal tutor helped me to perfect my CV and I applied to Bristol University on their application website. I was able to get an interview a month or so later and everything happened relatively quickly from there.

Where are you going?

I am just about to finish the initial training period and will be starting my PhD project in mid-April.  By way of ambitions, I hope that the PhD and my time at Bristol goes smoothly, ideally stumbling upon new chemistry that I can publish in journals.  In the longer term, I wish to obtain my PhD and go into research in industry. At this moment in time, a career in pharmaceutical/agrochemical research would be my desired career choice.

What advice would you give to a student studying your subject at university now?

I would definitely say enjoy it, try to keep motivated, don’t let the work pile up and ask lots of questions.  Additionally, it’s also worth making sure you understand and refresh on the basics throughout the course, as the basics are going to be fundamental when the hard stuff kicks in.  Finally, I would say enjoy the union while you’re there…I miss FND!

For more graduate profiles click here

Teaching in the education and training sector – Education and Training Foundation

Rewarding jobs for graduates

  • Passionate about maths or English?
  • Looking for a rewarding career path with great progression and leadership opportunities?
  • Teaching in the education and training sector transforms lives and boosts the economy.

Why teach in the education and training sector?

The education and training sector is big and very diverse. It offers plenty of training opportunities to help you develop, and there are exciting leadership opportunities too. Two million learners – of all ages from 14 upwards – need your skills to help them raise theirs.

How do I become a maths or English teacher in the education and skills sector?

Initial Teacher Training (ITT) courses in maths or English are available, and there’s financial help to support you. Trainees study an eligible ITT course at Level 5 and above, either full or part-time.

Visit FE Advice today to find out more, and bring your passion to work!

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Bright Futures Social Media Webinar

Bright Futures are hosting a live, interactive, online webinar on how to make the most of social media when job hunting and driving your career forward.

The emergence of social media networks is complementing more traditional hiring processes such as paper applications, CVs and face-to-face networking. As a screening tool, these online networks provide a readily accessible platform to research candidates at minimal cost. Potential employers can access detailed information to draw conclusions about an applicant’s fit for job positions.

By registering for this webinar you’ll receive a free eBook on ‘Using LinkedIn for Your Career’!

Date 18th June 2014
Time: 5.30-6.30pm

The event will be delivered by Vishnu Hariharan, CEO & Co-Founder at BlueBook, an education company dedicated to empowering the next generation of business minds through learning and professional development. Before setting up BlueBook, he worked in the City as a financial analyst at NYSE Euronext and Dresdner Kleinwort Bank in London. He graduated from the London School of Economics and I am a CFA charterholder.

Register NOW

Mentoring opportunity with a Lawyer

EXCITING NEWS

Elevation Networks have partnered with international law firm Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co to offer students and graduates interested in pursuing a career in law an exclusive mentoring opportunity with a Lawyer from their Birmingham HQ

This 6 months mentoring programme will:

  1. Give you 6 months access to a professional mentor
  2. Enhance your knowledge
  3. Help you to gain insight into the life of a lawyer working at an international firm
  4. Increase your professional network
  5. Equip you with employability skills
  6. Give you an exclusive invitation to the competitive Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co assessment centre

If you are driven and a highly ambition student or recent graduate from any degree discipline interested in law then this is an opportunity for you. For more info and to apply visit-

http://www.elevationnetworks.org/trailblazers-mentoring-scheme-in-partnership-with-wragge-lawrence-graham-co/

Compass Group Graduate Programme 2014 Twitter Q&A

Bringing the Jobsfair to your web device
Tue 24th June 10am – 2pm

Ask your questions directly to the following using the hashtags:
#EarlyCareers & #CompassGrads

Fiona Ryland – HR Director – @fiona_ryland
Sarah Mashiter – Head of Talent & Leadership Development – @sarah_mashiter
Sandra Warren-Smith – Head of Education – @sandrawarrenyo
Tony Walton – Lead Recruitment Partner – @YnotNotlaw
Gary Nice – Early Careers Manager & Graduate Recruiter – @nicerecruiter
Sam Inns – 2013 Compass Grad – @InnsSam

Applications close for the Grads Programme on the 29th of June so this is your chance to learn about the opportunities on offer at one of the World’s largest organisations before you apply.

Apply here – www.jobsatcompass.co.uk Follow us here – @compassgroupuk

Preparing for a global career: developing inter-cultural competence workshop – Wednesday

Preparing for a global career: developing inter-cultural competence, This workshop will run on Wednesday 21st May 2014 from 2pm – 4pm, Room SMB 103, Stewart Mason Building

This workshop focus on finding a job overseas and how to cope with culture shock and its effects. We will provide tips to help you find jobs overseas, provide you with resources and give you some interview questions to practice.

Click here for details and to book