Kingsbridge SCITT

I loved working with young people, from planning activities to delivering lessons and found the experience unforgettable. Upon my return home, post university, I settled back into an office job and quickly found that I was unchallenged and uninspired.  So, I decided it was time for a change. Thinking back to my time volunteering I decided to pursue teaching. I had most enjoyed working with older children, and I still wanted to utilise the science knowledge from my degree. Therefore, I decided to start the journey to become a science teacher.

When deciding how to train I researched all available options. Having no formal- teaching experience I wanted as much hands-on school experience as possible alongside pedagogy, therefore I decided to look for a SCITT. From my first “Get into teaching” event with Kingsbridge I was expertly guided through the application process and given an outline of my training program. I listened to the experiences of current trainees who raved about the level of support you receive and how personalised the experience is. This cemented my decision to apply to Kingsbridge. After application and interview I was ready to start in September!

My experience so far has been fantastic with a high level of support. I have two school mentors that I work with daily, a subject mentor who gives me expert sessions specific to science and a professional mentor who oversees my training. The course has been tailored to my needs and enabled me to develop my identity as a teacher. As part of Kingsbridge I automatically became a member of STEM and ASE which have been essential to support my subject development. I have attended multiple CPD days with STEM which have strengthened my practical knowledge and allowed me to make links with other trainees in the area.

Another major highlight is the range of placements I have been able to attend. I have my main placement in a local secondary school and for my second placement I was able to request an SEND school. This was an invaluable experience and enabled me to engage with a different style of teaching. I have also had intensive 1 day placements in colleges and primary schools that have widened my understanding of the educational spectrum.

Overall, Kingsbridge has been a brilliant SCITT to complete my training year with! The support from mentors, staff and other trainees has been crucial to my development and I would encourage everyone to apply.