4 reasons why school-based training may be best for you
On my first day as a trainee teacher, there was a timetabling error.
On arriving at my classroom, I found nearly 50 Year 10 students queueing outside. I only had 28 seats.
Oh, and the executive principal of the academy was waiting with them.
No pressure then.
But as stressful as this occasion was, a school-based training scheme was exactly what I needed: it was rigorous, challenging and intellectually stimulating.
Did it feel a little risky to allow someone who had barely taught at all before that day to stand before a class? Absolutely. But there was value in that sink-or-swim moment. And I knew I had the support around me if I needed it.
Many consider the PGCE route to be the “proper” way to train, and I understand that a gradual transition from theory to practice may suit a lot of teachers.
The benefits of school-based teacher training
But there are many reasons why a school-based training route can be a great fit.
1. Practice, practice, practice
Will you be a good teacher on day one? Nope. Will you be a good teacher by the end of the year? Also no.
You shouldn’t expect to feel like you’re a good teacher before three to four years have passed. And that’s because, as in every field, it takes hours of practice to become an expert.
And this is why I recommend a school-based training route. You get more opportunities to practice, to hone your craft, to try, and to fail beautifully, several times a day.
But make sure you know your subject, or you will end up feeling like an imposter. You run the risk of struggling to engage students with lessons that are content-light and gimmicky.
Students are hungry to learn. Anyone who tells you that “You’ll be fine so long as you stay a week ahead of the kids” is lying to you. You need to be secure in your subject knowledge in order to be ready to meet that hunger with plates of knowledge.
2. Regular observations
Inevitably, you will be observed a lot if you take this route. That is a good thing. Observations needn’t be terrifying; they should be constructive and designed around developing your pedagogy.
As an in-school trainee, you will be observed (both formally and informally) numerous times over the year.
And once you’re more confident, you will probably end up inviting your colleagues or teachers from different departments to observe you.
The school based-route drives home that feedback from other teachers, coaches and experts, helps to improve and accelerates your progress. And progress is addictive.
3. Join the community
From day one, you will become part of the staff body. You’ll meet colleagues who will offer you friendship and guidance throughout your training and, most importantly, you will come to know a great many students.
I’m sure those who undertake the traditional PGCE would argue that they too get to belong to a community, but from school-based routes you’re in there from the start, not dropping in and out. It’s a great feeling to see yourself as part of the school family.
4. Take on the challenge
A lot is asked of you from the start of your course, so it’s important to relish the challenge. It will be a series of ups and downs. When I was training, we were shown a cartoon of a rollercoaster, along with the quip: “This is what your training year will look like.”
Despite the fact that, at the time, this message failed to provide the emotional comfort, looking back now, they were absolutely right.
I am considering a school-based training route: what are my options?
What teacher training course is right for me?
What if your degree isn’t related to what you want to teach?
Primary or secondary? We explore both options.
Shivan Davis trained with Teach First and is now a Teach First Ambassador teaching English in an inner-city academy. He runs the YouTube channel Mr Davis English Literature Tutorials.
