Trainee Teacher Blogs

When I was four years old, I came home from school one day and asked my sister to play schools with me. She took the role of my teaching assistant, she wasn't two years old yet, so her focus in the classroom was practically non-existent. At one point I had to have a very stern word with her about setting an example in the classroom by not rolling around on the floor. It was at that moment that I decided I wanted to be a teacher.

I have fluttered from subject to subject but decided finally to specialise in English, so I completed a degree in English Literature at Oxford Brookes in June 2024 and I started at the GUTP the following September straight from uni. When applying for PGCE courses, I wanted to make sure that I was choosing the right one for me. I signed up with Get into Teaching and I spent hours seaching through the Gov.UK website for training providers. After all my searching, I was drawn to two in particular; The GUTP and The University of Oxford. I applied, interviewed and was accepted for both. I'm going to be honest and say that this was the most difficult decision of my career so far and I have no doubt that I would have succeeded regardless of my choice. However, the GUTP course was the one I was most excited about, and that's what made up my mind.

The Interview was nerve wracking but the team were lovely and welcoming and immediately put me at ease. I interviewed on my own but immediately felt like this would be a comfortable and sociable environment. I was reassured throughout my interview and felt able to be open about my concerns and anxieties without judgement, I didn't have long to wait to hear their decision, I heard back the next morning. The GUTP hosted a trainee meet and greet event so that we could start getting to know the cohort we would be working with and it made starting the course so much easier.

I have since completed my first placement and I am growing to love teaching more and more everyday. During my placments I have been supported and encouraged by all members of the GUTP admin team, teachers in associated schools, directors and mentors. Teacher training is difficult, it sometimes feels like you're being pulled in a million directions but the team at the GUTP genuinely want us to succeed, and because of the time they put into us as trainees, I feel like I am getting the absolute most out of this year.

If you want to get into teaching yourself, I can highly recommend it. It is rewarding and interesting and no day is ever the same. If you asked for my advice, I would tell you to make sure that you have looked at all the options that are available, and find the one that excites you the most. It's what I did and it's more than worked out for me.

April 2025

If you told someone from my secondary school I would become a teacher, they would laugh out loud. I was not the best student at school, but I really enjoyed sports and the day-to-day environment. I went to the UK for a gap year after I completed school and coached rowing in Cambridge. After that I decided to go back to South Africa and study at university. My degree was in Business Management and Fashion Design.

Being at university really ignited my fascination with education and cognitive understanding. I started reading and researching over and above my dictated work and found I had a passion for how the human brain works. This interest developed over the years alongside my careers in the business world ranging from operations and marketing through to entrepreneurship and strategic planning.

Last year, I reached a point in my career where I could choose the next marketing career challenge or totally change direction. I had been mulling the idea of working in education or with young minds for years. It felt too daunting to make the change and I didn't take it too seriously until I stumbled across a teacher training website and down the rabbit hole I went.

I did my research and contacted a few training providers, my experience was that the process was not fluid and I spent far too much time chasing for information so my enthusiasm waned.

I came across the GUTP when I was looking into doing a school experience day at a well known secondary school in my area. From the get go, they were professional, helpful and knowledgable about the training process and experience.

The application and recruitment process was really straightforward and the team at the GUTP guided (and reminded) me through each step. They are mindful that many people on this journey are still working during this time or juggling other personal and professional commitments. The interview was thorough but also gave me a little insight into what they expected of me and what I was getting myself into.

Remember, an interview goes both ways. They are looking into you but you are also assessing whether this is the right place for you. Needless to say, I passed and am now about 5 weeks into my training. I am really enjoying it and I have no regrets. It's busy, I am learning so much and I am meeting some briliant collagues and fellow trainees. The GUTP team are still supporting and guiding us through the process and will be until we qualify and I have been assured this still will still apply long after if needed.

My tips for taking on teacher training: Do your homework on what is required and what is available to you in your area, sort your finances early and take things in your stride. This is a year of learning and evolving.

November 2023.