NQT FOCUS NQT FOCUS
A steep learning curve
Entering the first term of your NQT year is
one of the most daunting moments in any
teacher’s career. Chris Parr spoke to NQTs
at three schools to find out more about their
experiences during term one, and their hopes for next year
Alison Green
staff right the way up to the top. I am often asked: “How
French / German NQT are you finding it? How are you getting on?”
Claremont High School in Harrow
There is a real feeling of everybody working
together. I have established a good support network
How is your first year going? of colleagues, both NQTs and other more experienced
It’s going well. I’m really enjoying having my own staff, and because of this I feel really settled and at
classes and building relationships with the kids. home at Claremont – despite being there for such a
Everyone told me how different it would be starting at short amount of time.
the beginning of the year as their official class teacher
and it’s true. The kids have much more respect for What is the most important thing you have learned?
you. To take on board the advice of other more experienced
members of staff but not to try and mimic their
What has been the most challenging aspect? methods.
As with the PGCE, I’d still say behaviour management. You have to be yourself with young people, they
As you are the class teacher now you have to follow can see right through an act and they will respect you
everything up and make sure you are consistent. There more if you are firm and fair but do let them see some
are some situations when you think “argh! I don’t of your personality. You also have to remember though
know how to handle this”, and it’s a matter of trial that you’re not there to be their friend, and it really
and error. doesn’t matter if they don’t “like” you, as long as they
I have gone in too hard with some classes and not know you’re fair.
hard enough with others. As an NQT you’re not sure
how to start off the year with your classes. You don’t get Would you do anything differently if you were
the opportunity to observe other teachers doing this and starting over?
reading about what to do cannot prepare you for being It’s hard to say, but I think I would be more strict.
in that situation yourself. I’ve definitely learnt what I It’s very difficult to go back if you’ve let things go at
will and won’t do next year! first. At the beginning I let kids off if they forgot their
homework or their book, and it doesn’t necessarily
What’s been the most enjoyable thing? create the best foundation for the rest of the year, but I
First, getting to know my classes and building a rapport know that it’s a matter of trial and error this year, and
with them. The kids here at Claremont are lovely – on I’ll know what to clamp down on next year in order to
the whole! assert my authority!
I’m also a year 7 form tutor, and I’d say this has
been the thing I have enjoyed the most so far because How was the step-up from trainee to NQT?
I am interested in the pastoral side of school life and Actually, much less scary than I’d expected. Obviously
have found it very rewarding liaising with parents and the work load is much greater, but I’m quite organised
other members of staff who I wouldn’t have had much and have just about coped with it!
contact with had I not had this role. It has been a very positive transition with respect
Second, getting to know the staff here. I can’t to how the kids view you. They haven’t figured out
believe how friendly everybody is, from the support that I’m an NQT, just that I’m new to the school.
A full–time job
Most teachers look forward to the sound of the
I am also surprised how other members of staff Most importantly though, the aim is to keep going;
treat us as equals, which wasn’t the case as PGCE to get my year 11s prepared thoroughly for their exams,
school bell on a Friday afternoon. But what if your
students. make sure my year 9s are enthusiastic and excited about
I have enjoyed feeling part of the school community carrying on with German for GCSE, and make sure all
school doesn’t close? Chris Parr spoke to staff at
and fitting in to the day-to-day routine of school life, my other classes are achieving and enjoying the subject.
rather than three-month stints and having to leave just
the UK’s biggest state boarding school
as you’ve settled in. Any other thoughts?
I was given a piece of advice from my mentor in my
Any particular moments that stand out? first placement during my PGCE. “Make sure you have
This happened with both my year 7 French groups last a good work/life balance. It’s important that you work
WYMONdHAM COLLEGE in Norfolk is the largest “NQTs in boarding benefit from getting to know week: I had just completed the starter and I was stood hard and take pride in what you’re doing, but for your
state boarding school in the UK, and offers a range of their students thoroughly and seeing them in different at the front of the classroom. I counted down in French own sanity you need to allow yourself at least one day
unique challenges to its NQTs. contexts. for silence – “trois, deux, un, silence” – then before at the weekend when you don’t look at your books, or
In addition to all the usual responsibilities a “Students in turn see their teachers as human I started to give my next instructions I said “alors”, your emails, and just relax.”
new teacher has to face, those starting work at beings and the mutually respectful relationships meaning “right then”. I think this has kept me sane, because you feel
Wymondham are expected to take an active role in that develop are a great strength of boarding school One pupil at the front of the classroom repeated guilty about not working all the time, but if you allow
boarding duties – something many new teachers will life. They lead to greater success and fulfilment for it back to me, and I thought it was a bit strange, so I yourself that day, you feel refreshed and ready for the
not have experienced before. students and a more rewarding job for teachers.” gave them a glare and said it again to refocus them. next week ahead.
Principal Melvyn Roffe explained: “The challenge Ms Rodger agrees. She added: “The most Then another piped up “allo”, and I realised what was
for new teachers is the time that they have to spend in enjoyable thing about the first term has been the going on. They thought I was saying hello in a French
Nikki Bolus
boarding houses in addition to their teaching duties. chance to get to know the children on a different accent.
Geography NQT
There is also the subtlety of the relationships between level, and this is particularly true on boarding I started laughing and told them “I’m not saying
Hanham High School in Bristol
staff and boarders in a boarding house being different duty. Outside the classroom, it is not the same as hello, I’m saying alors, meaning I’m ready to start”.
to those in the classroom – and this can sometimes the teacher-student relationship – it’s much more “Oh Miss, we thought it was funny that you were How is your first year going?
take a while for NQTs to appreciate.” informal.” saying hello to us!” It’s going so quickly! The days are whizzing past
Elsie Rodger, a science NQT at the school, Nick Bertholdt, a biology NQT, added that staff It had the whole class in stitches – and the other and I’m really enjoying them. Obviously there are
conceded that the long hours kept by the school did camaraderie at the school was a key part of working NQTs when I told them. The funniest thing was then hard days, challenging classes, and the occasional
offer up some challenges. in the boarding environment. exactly the same thing happened the lesson after with panic when you realise you’ve not photocopied the
She told us: “You might have to work until 10:15pm He told us: “The thing that makes a big difference my other year 7 class. resources when you thought you had, but mostly
on one night a week, and then there’s Saturday morning in facing the challenges is support from more it’s going well. I’m having fun, learning new things
school too. It would be very easy to fall into the trap of experienced members of staff. I feel I’ve asked so What are your goals for after Christmas? everyday and getting involved in lots of different
working seven days, but it is important to remember to many mundane questions over and over again, but I am going to help plan and run the French trip to Paris activities.
take a complete break each week.” people are really keen to help all of the time – even for year 7. I am going on a training day in November,
However, Mr Roffe feels that the positives of taking though I’m sure they must be sick of it!” so I would like to use this to develop some lessons for What has been the most challenging aspect?
on boarding duties usually outweigh the negatives. Visit www.wymondhamcollege.org the department to implement using PLTS (personal, I think the most challenging thing has been establishing
learning and thinking skills) in French and German. myself in the classroom. As a new member of staff
20 SecEd • November 26 2009
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