Ed’s Hot Tips when applying for Teacher Training

KMT Trainee Teacher, Ed, gives us his ‘hot tips when applying for Teacher Training’ to help you get ready to train to teach!

I was accepted for teacher training during the Covid pandemic when application numbers were sky-high, so without further ado, let’s dive right in:

My tips when applying for Teacher Training

1. Tutor online! Tutoring is a great way to see whether you enjoy teaching. You can tutor online whether you’re planning to teach primary (KS2, 11+) or secondary (KS3, GCSE or A-level), there’s always demand for online tutors! There are some great sites out there – I recommend SuperProf. It’s a great way to make some extra cash, whilst assessing the workload.
2. Be sure. Talk to at least two teachers, one who has recently completed their training and one who has been teaching for some time. The different perspectives will give you a realistic understanding of what you are taking on and the changes in workload that you might expect as you complete your course and progress.
3. Ask to be sent a few lesson plans. There’s no time like the present to dive right in and understand what goes into planning a lesson. It’ll also give you exposure to the language and help you to build your own lesson plan for the interview!
4. Get yourself into a school and observe! Keep an eye out for the non-verbal cues. How does she keep 30 teenagers engaged in maths?!
5. Now you’ve decided that teaching is for you, polish your CV, highlight your relevant experiences/skill sets. This could be anything from volunteering at your local Barnardos centre to that gap year you took, teaching English as a foreign language.
6. Write your personal statement. Get a friend to read it. Rewrite it if you need to. Include all your enthusiasm that has brought you to this point. No need to overcomplicate.
7. Do research your desired course/school. They vary. Don’t settle for any old school / university – ask around, find one that stands out to you and matches your personal values – get in touch directly – send them an hola by email and introduce yourself!
8. Pick your references. If it’s a choice between the old boss that still hates your coffee-making ability or an ex-colleague who still sing your praises, I know who I’d pick! No one wants a mediocre coffee reference.
9. As Shia LeBeouf would say, “just do it!”. Get yourself on UCAS and send that application. Now!
10. Prepare for your interview! – “If you fail to prepare, then you prepare to fail.”

Bonus tips

Bonus tip uno: Ignore negativity.

Bonus tip dos: If you’re applying to teach an in-demand subject (you know who you are!), be aware that there are government-funded subject knowledge enhancement courses available. They’re a great way to refresh knowledge and you could earn yourself a tidy sum before you even start!

Bonus tip tres: On the theme of funding, be aware of professional bodies in your subject. Some of these bodies (for example, the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry) may offer you generous scholarships, make sure that you apply early!

Now you know my secrets. Good luck!