Case studies: Primary school teacher: Corinna

Corinna graduated in 2011 with a degree in primary education (with recommendation for QTS) from Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln. She now works as a year 1 teacher in South Yorkshire.

Whilst still at university, around March, I began looking for teaching jobs on my local council website, which I checked every week. When I found a job that interested me, I looked at the school's website and Ofsted report, then rang the school to ask to look around. If I still liked the school after the visit, I would send an application. When I was asked to attend an interview for my current job I had to teach a short numeracy lesson, complete a planning task, and have a formal interview.

My degree was very relevant as it was all focused on education, with lots of opportunities to put theory into practice. I was placed in schools throughout university and got to experience a range of different environments, e.g. religious schools, special needs schools, and an inner-city school with a high proportion of EAL (English as an additional language) pupils.

A typical day involves checking planning for the day, getting resources ready for the morning lessons and informing the teaching assistant what I want them to do in the lesson and who they will be working with. I write a 'wake up activity' or question on the whiteboard for children to do as they enter the classroom and continue with while I take the register. Afterwards I teach phonics including differentiated activities before teaching a literacy lesson. On some days we have an assembly where I may go into the hall or take some children out to do some reading. After break-time I teach numeracy, which involves working closely with a group. During lunchtime, I get things ready for the afternoon lessons before having my own lunch. When the afternoon lessons are over, I hand out any letters and children's book bags and then have some 'show and tell' if there's time. After all the children have gone I will mark work and possibly get some resources ready for the next day or change my planning if necessary. Sometimes I may be involved in after-school activities, such as sewing club or parents' evenings.

The things I enjoy most about my job include how every day and every lesson is completely different, so you are never bored. If you are having a bad day there will always be a child who can cheer you up. Children are the greatest people to work with as they are innocent, highly amusing, and eager to learn and impress you with their efforts. The most satisfying part of the job is witnessing how much your pupils progress in a year and knowing that you have helped them achieve their current level.

The most challenging aspects of the job are the constant high workload and trying to reason with argumentative or pushy parents.

My advice to anyone thinking of becoming a primary school teacher would be to do a teaching degree instead of a PGCE if possible because it is difficult to learn enough and get enough teaching experience in one year. The people I know who took that route have had very stressful NQT years as they were not fully aware of what the job involves. Also, don't let a bad placement put you off - it is stressful at times and you won't always get along with all teaching staff, but you will also learn a lot from every placement.

AGCAS

Sourced by AGCAS editors

Date: 

July 2012

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