If you’re thinking about becoming a teacher, you might be considering which route is right for you. In-school teacher training offers a unique way to learn, develop and make a difference from day one. Here’s why it’s worth considering.
1. You make a difference from day one
Training in school means you’ll split your time between learning how to teach and being in the classroom observing other teachers and practising your own skills. We know that many people choose to teach to make a difference to children’s futures and by training in school you can do so straight away.
Trainee teacher Jessica shares how she can see the difference she’s making after her first term: “having been here and having taught just for the past two months, I would say that it has delivered beyond my wildest dreams. Being able to make a difference and giving the pupils the one thing that will enable them to have a myriad of choices when they leave the school. That strong education, that foundation for the rest of their life, it’s been an incomparable experience.”
2. You build a community and a sense of belonging
Training in school means you’re part of a team, experiencing all aspects of everyday school life. You’ll connect with other trainees and more experienced teachers, support each other, and become part of the school community.
Spending the whole year in school means you can get to know your pupils and building strong relationships with your classes too. This consistency means you can see the difference you make every day and by the end of the year you’ll see how much you’ve helped your classes develop.
“I feel like I’ve got this extended family,” says trainee teacher Saffron. “As I’m not from around here, that felt like something else I had to overcome, not knowing anyone. But the support I’ve been given by literally everyone at this school and on the programme has massively helped. I’ve been able to build those connections with all these people and find my place.”
3. You develop skills through experience and feedback
Many people worry about not having enough experience before stepping into the classroom. In-school training tackles this head on. You learn the theory behind teaching and can put this into practice immediately.
You get to put what you’ve learned into practice in a real classroom, and adapt what you do based on feedback from a mentor who is an experienced teacher. This gives you the time, space and structured support to gradually make your teaching skills the best they can be.
“The programme gave me a really strong foundation in most aspects of teaching, like behaviour management and the way I think about the curriculum,” shares Ibrahim, who’s now a qualified teacher. “It wasn’t just about teaching lessons. It really helped me understand the reasons behind why we do what we do as teachers. The training included lots of coaching and examples that helped me reflect on my teaching and improve in small, manageable steps.”
4. You grow in confidence quickly with expert support
You’ll also have the support of a dedicated mentor. They will support you to practice bite-sized aspects of teaching in a low-stress environment and give constructive feedback to help you perfect your teaching. This will help you feel confident in your own abilities both when putting your training into practice in front of a class and in your professional identity as a teacher over time.
You’ll also have regular meetings with your mentor where you can discuss anything that would be useful to your learning or wellbeing.
“The support I’ve had on the programme so far has been invaluable,” trainee teacher Mehdi says. “From the first week onwards, I met my mentor and she’s been incredibly supportive. She’s done an excellent job at gradually building up my workload and gradually getting me to be more and more used to school environment and taking control of lessons, to a point now where I feel at home doing full lessons.”
5. You’re more ready for your first teaching job
Because you train in school, the step into your first year as a qualified teacher feels much less daunting. You already know what it’s like to be part of a staff team, and to develop strong relationships with your class. Having spent a year immersed in a school before qualifying, you’ll have the experience and confidence to thrive in your first teaching role.
Ibrahim, who completed his training last year, says: “You do feel like you’re part of the staff. Staying at that one school really provides consistency. You’re in that school for the whole year, working on all your goals. You’ve got a whole year to work on them in the same environment. Even though I’ve completed my initial teacher training, I’m still learning every day, but I’m starting to trust my instincts more.”
In-school teacher training is for everyone
Our trainees come from all walks of life. Whether you’re a recent graduate, changing careers, or looking for a new challenge, in-school teacher training gives you hands-on experience and the chance to make a difference straight away.
