Tell us about you and why you opted for a career in education
I'm a maths teacher and I chose to be a maths teacher because I love my subject and I chose teaching specifically because I feel like I can change lives, I can do good things. I wanted to go into the city, but after trialling the city, I decided that it wasn't beneficial to me or anyone else.
Were you familiar with Tes Institute before you applied?
I had no idea about Tes Institute before I applied. I went on to the government website, I discovered what Tes was, I researched and I decided that it was the best choice for me.
So what stood out about Tes Institute?
Tes Institute seemed to be the most supportive of programmes for me, especially partnered with the BTSA. They just provide that extra support and a safety blanket if you need it.
Do you feel that this course has supported your professional development and career goals?
Yes, the training on this course has been unreal. And throughout I've been so supported and every single need that I have had has been covered by Tes.
What did you enjoy about how the course was delivered?
I really loved the aspect of online to face-to-face learning. I'm a student that went through Covid, so I've become very accustomed to training online and Tes Institute has delivered the online sessions perfectly: the perfect amount of time, the perfect amount of activities, everything that I needed.
Would you say that this course has helped to build your confidence?
100%. I'm not the same person as when I started in September.
As a teacher, where do you feel the most confident?
I feel most confident standing in front of my class. I love teaching and I love, love my subject.
What types of support did you receive as a Tes Institute learner and how has this helped you progress?
When I began with Tes Institute, I felt overwhelmed with the amount of support I had. There were so many teams, different people to go to, the support was just amazing. I felt so supported by everybody. There was my mentor, my ITT coordinator, my pathway tutor. I could have asked anyone for help, even my other trainees. It was brilliant.
What would you tell another person who's thinking of applying for this course?
Keep up to date with your work. If you fall behind, tell somebody because someone will help you.
Oh so many things I would tell them! The most important thing is to be yourself, because the students prefer you to be yourself rather than somebody you're not. You don't need to pretend to be a character. You're just yourself.
How would you sum up your experience in a sentence?
My experience has been life changing.
Watch Emily's learner story
