Through a collaboration with i2i Teaching Partnership we have three trainee teachers at School this academic year. The SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) programme aims to start teachers on a lifelong journey and equip them with the skills, knowledge and resilience needed to become the best teachers they can possibly be.
Greg Flynn was working as an aerospace engineer in Washington DC prior to joining Charterhouse. While working in the US he had the opportunity to teach a wide range of students in addition to his engineering work. He soon realised that he was enjoying teaching more than his engineering managerial work.
The main reason Greg picked to complete a SCITT rather than a university-led training course was because he wanted to be in the classroom from day one. He teaches four Physics lessons and has time to observe other subjects and work on his PGCE assignments.
For Greg the best part of on the job training is understanding first-hand what is involved with teaching at a boarding school. He is also able to spend time outside of the classroom working with pupils during some clubs such as the Maker-Space.
Greg is of the opinion, that if you want to become a teacher a SCITT programme is the best route. He is appreciative of the opportunities he has had to shadow other staff doing non-academic roles.
I've had a brilliant inside-view that will be invaluable in my future path as a teacher of Physics.
Greg Flynn
Emily was working as a teaching assistant in early years when an email from i2i Teaching Partnership came through from her son's school about joining their programme to become a secondary teacher. She attended an information day and decided to start the process to apply. She was offered the opportunity to come to Charterhouse to do her placement and was delighted to train with such experienced staff and amazing facilities.
Emily is training to be a Chemistry teacher. She is grateful for the support from the whole Chemistry team, from the teachers to laboratory technicians. As a married mum of two and having family and friends who were/are teachers, she knew that the biggest challenge that she was going to face was the adjustment to her family life. i2i have supported her through this transition. To start she was only observing lessons but this has now developed into taking two to three lessons per day. There are weekly pedagogy sessions at i2i and weekly meetings with her mentor at School.
If you have a love for a subject and enjoy spending time with young people I would recommend the SCITT programme. Yes it can be difficult at times juggling all the different requirements, but when you see that you have added value to a young person's education when they grasp the concept you are trying to teach, it is absolutely worth it!
