How did you come to study with Tes Institute?
Having worked in hospitality for many years, I felt it was time for a change. I managed to get a job as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA) in a secondary school and soon realised that I would like to teach and share my love of history.
During my time working as a full-time LSA, I was able to gain many “free” hours of observing other teachers and noting good practice, while simultaneously finishing my degree at a full-time intensity.
My school supported my application for the Post-Graduate Teaching Apprenticeship (PGTA) route as it was aimed at candidates with sound experience in schools.
Why did you choose to undertake this course?
The “earn while you learn” mantra of the PGTA really appealed to me, because I still needed to earn a salary while teacher training to support my growing family.
How has this course supported you to achieve your goals?
The support I’ve received through weekly mentor meetings and an excellent pathway tutor enabled me to challenge myself further and ‘take risks’ in my teaching practice, such as implementing new ideas in the classroom and organising trips. I’ve also really appreciated the online subject-specific seminars and the extra support I’ve received from Teach in Kent.
How did you find the application process?
Very straightforward. The team at Tes Institute and Teach in Kent were on hand to promptly answer any questions that I had.
What did you enjoy most about the course?
I really liked that the course was fast paced, and that I was learning on the job. I loved having full responsibility for my own classes, rather than teaching somebody else’s class as per the traditional routes into teaching.
What would you tell another person who is thinking of applying for this course?
I believe nothing compares to the hands-on, high-intensity approach that the PGTA offers – the rewards are incredible.
How would you sum up your experience with Tes Institute in a sentence?
A wonderful and supportive experience that was very challenging but highly rewarding.
