NQTS
Did you get
involved in
extra-curricular
activities in your
Get involved
first year as a teacher? Chris
Parr talks to three NQTs
who did and finds out how it
has helped them
OR AN NQT, just getting through the
F
first year can seem like an enormous
challenge.
Even finding the time to consider
getting involved in extra-curricular
activities is something that can easily
be overlooked when meeting the
ongoing challenges posed by day-to-day teaching
responsibilities.
However, as thousands of teachers across the UK reach
the end of their inaugural school year, the opportunity to “We were one of only a handful of schools selected, to the head, confirmed it with the head of English, and I also wrote to other teachers asking if they had any
get more involved in the school community and its many and immediately I found myself as project manager organised tea, coffee and snacks. Then, at 3am on the students that they thought would be suited to the club.”
activities becomes a more realistic one. of our RSC work, which has meant having meetings morning of the workshop, I woke up in a cold sweat At Haberdasher’s Aske’s Knights Academy in
Two areas where out-of-hours activities are with our feeder primaries, and planning towards a – I’d forgotten to invite any students.” Bromley, Kent, Hannah McKee – a first year PE
particularly prevalent are sports and the arts. festival that will take place next year. Also, in July, I’ll Fortunately, the problem was solved the next day, teacher – has found herself heavily involved in the
Nick Pillow, a first year English teacher at Claremont be taking a group of 25 students to Stratford with the and the workshop went off without a hitch. school’s extra-curricular sports programmes.
High School in London, has found himself involved in head of drama.” Mr Pillow, who did his PGCE at London’s Institute She told SecEd: “It’s been a really good first
a range of English and drama activities despite his Although an enjoyable part of his year, Mr Pillow of Education, also started up a lunchtime drama class year. Really scary at first – especially with regards to
already heavy workload. admits that taking on the extra jobs has placed a little in order to help some quieter students to speak up more workload – but as the year has gone on, I’ve definitely
He told us: “My first year in school has been strain on his time: “I’m getting used to it now, but I in class. learned to prioritise more, and I’ve been able to fit in
really tough, but the vast majority of it has been remember when the application was accepted, and He explained: “There were some students in my some extra-curricular stuff.
pretty enjoyable. Two of the biggest concerns are everything needed to be set up, there was a flurry of class that were not saying much, and who were very “I’ve been involved in netball, athletics, rowing, and
behaviour management, and just fitting everything organising. It included meetings with the headteacher, reluctant to answer questions. They were generally rounders – all of which take place after school. It really
in to the day. However, there is loads of support the head of English, and representatives from the local girls in years 7, 8 and 9. Others who didn’t seem to shows you a different side to the kids, and seems far
available, and this has allowed me to take on one or authority and from local primary schools – all in two want to put their hand up in class were some of the more enjoyable and much less like a chore.”
two extra jobs.” weeks.” students with English as a second language, so I got Despite this, Ms McKee concedes that taking on the
Despite being in his first year, Mr Pillow decided to On one occasion, when organising a student them involved too. sports clubs has placed some pressure on her time.
apply for his school to become a partner of the Royal workshop set to be led by visitors from the RSC, Mr “I decided it might be good to get these students She continued: “At first it was very difficult. You
Shakespeare Company (RSC) – an application that was Pillow was guilty of making one small oversight. together at lunchtime once a week, and do some drama realise very quickly that the school day doesn’t finish
unexpectedly accepted. “I’d organised the room for the workshop, spoken activities together to try and build up their confidence. at 3:15pm, even if that’s when the bell goes. And at
Knights, there are so many good sports teams and clubs
that I was slightly overwhelmed.
“However, I share an office with my first year
My NQT year is at an end
mentor, and have also had loads of support and advice
from our director of support. Also, there’s a real school
culture of extra-curricular activity, so everyone has
helped me along in different ways.”
At Villiers High School in London, first year
Charles Aubeeluck is SecEd’s NQT diarist this year
Knowing when to switch off has also been a vital geography teacher Laura Alldred has had the
lesson that I want to carry into year two. Everyone opportunity to take part in a number of activities away
and has been keeping us updated every week on his
is different in their time-management, but I initially from the classroom.
found myself taking substantial workloads home at the She told us: “Generally, most of the highlights
weekends. It would linger over my head until Sunday from the year have been in the classroom – building
trials and tribulations. We asked him to write a special
afternoon, psychologically killing the whole weekend. relationships with students and trying to make an
Obviously the job demands this sometimes, but I impact through the lessons. However, there are so many
entry about the highs and lows of his year to date
would have benefited if I had immediately adopted a opportunities to do other stuff at the school too.
routine of working late one or two nights in the week “For example, I will be taking part in a model
to get as much done as physically/mentally possible, United Nations conference soon, and that’s given
WELL IT has certainly gone quickly. As I write this, as I head into year two. It forces you to pick out the rather than ruining my weekends. Also, the key has me the opportunity to work with a group of year 10
I am about to attend an “NQT panel Q&A” session nuts and bolts of your practice – the things that do been to prioritise. students preparing speeches on climate change. At
for my old training institution’s current PGCE-ers. not make themselves clearly visible when you are All in all, it has been a great year with its obvious the event, we’ll be representing Malaysia, Russia and
It really does seem like only yesterday when the immersed in day-to-day teaching. highs and lows. I have found the key to handling the Mexico.”
roles were reversed and I was about to embark on Taking a step back means you can spot these issues, lows is to ensure that they spur you on and that they Ms Alldred spends long hours in school, but says
my first year of teaching after coming through initial tackle the problems and barriers to success, and enables build more determination in you to it is important to remember to take a break from time
teacher training. more rapid progression and the ability to iron out issues go forward and tackle the next to time. She said: “I don’t really know how I’ve found
It actually took a while for me to find a permanent which may be holding back progression. hurdle. the time to fit in the extra activities, but I enjoy doing
teaching position after training. However, I eventually I have realised that it is easy to shoot yourself in the On the pastoral side, it. Maintaining energy is the biggest challenge – even
landed a job in a great school, although I did have to foot in the NQT year. It is easy to make mistakes and to the end of this year has during days when there’s nothing extra happening
compromise on what I would be teaching. I qualified feel like you could have done something better, but that seen me getting my other than the teaching timetable, it can feel like you’re
as a citizenship teacher, but I joined the school to is all part of the learning process. And now I am at the form group through the fighting off exhaustion.
take on sociology, and health and social care. end of the year, I am left feeling that I want that chance UCAS process. This “However, I have a great mentor in my department
I starting at the school a week before the end to start a school year all over again with a whole set of is something that I am who has mentored NQTs before, and really understands
of the summer holiday and this gave the obvious new classes and challenges. keen to develop next what it’s like. I am able to push myself, but can always
opportunity to clue oneself up on the essentials of the One of the many lessons I have learnt this year year. The other major ask for help if it gets a bit too much, and I think that’s
forthcoming year. I got the SEN lists for the classes centres around the old saying of “don’t smile until focus is my “career important. It’s also given me the confidence to take on
I was teaching, planned my first few weeks’ lessons, Christmas”. As much as you want to be the nice lenient progression”, and a post new things.”
drew up class rules, seating plans and so on, and as and up-for-a-laugh teacher, it does not help to get the of responsibility is now In addition to the model UN, Ms Alldred has taken
hard as it seemed at the time, I took a few text and job done or make your life easier. Much to the contrary on the horizon. part in the school’s International Festival, which took
pedagogical books to the beach with me. in fact. I am in the process of place in October, and has also visited Scandinavia.
And while now I will be happy to reach the It sounds simple, but clear boundaries and a rewards applying for the all-new She continued: “The International Festival gave
summer holiday and the chance to unwind, I will and sanction system pays dividends – start as you mean post of AQA baccalaureate me the opportunity to discuss the arms trade with the
not be forgetting to keep my focus in the run-up to to go on, and I will start year two in this vein. and pupil participation co- students. We discussed different ways of protesting and
September and ensuring I prepare for the second year. Another aspect that could have been easily skirted ordinators. Both of the put together drawings and poems about the topic. I was
Highlights of this year have definitely been around is getting involved with activities outside of the posts will contextualise glad I got so involved, even though it made extra work.
developing that sense of ownership of your own classroom. Although it feels like you are making more my practice by heavily “The British Council also invited a couple of
classes. Also, I have noticed that a key part of my work for yourself, it can reap rewards in many ways. incorporating citizenship teachers from my department to visit Norway, where
working life has become the need to reflect – I have I was in the Christmas pantomime and have helped pedagogical approaches we went hiking with teachers from various European
learnt how crucial this is. My weekly musings for to run a DJ club. It gives the chance to meet pupils you via different mediums. countries and did workshops about setting up an EU
SecEd’s NQT diary and my Master’s have been may not teach and for the ones that you already do to If anything has pen pal scheme.”
ways to reflect that have become invaluable. see you in a different light. Also it shows commitment become evident this Back at Claremont High, Mr Pillow says he is
Reflection is another aspect that has to continue to the whole-school agenda, which speaks for itself. year, it is that I have to looking forward to next year, and to getting even more
keep pushing myself involved in his school community.
and setting myself He said: “It’s tough, but once you get into the routine
‘
It is easy to make mistakes and to feel like
targets. After all, how of doing stuff then it all seems to settle down.
can you be continually “Doing the extra jobs is really good for my CPD,
you could have done something better, but
setting your pupils targets if you are and getting experience of being a project manager has
not aiming for anything yourself? been particularly eye-opening.
that is all part of the learning process
“It’s also a totally different atmosphere working
’
• Charles Aubeeluck teaches at Ellen with kids outside of lesson time. They’re there because
Wilkinson School for Girls in London. they want to be there, and you get to know so much
more about them.”
22 SecEd • June 25 2009
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