NQT FOCUS
Focus on your success
A month ago,
teacher Edward
Vickerman was
on national
television collecting
the Teaching Award for
Outstanding New Teacher
of the Year. Now in his
fourth year of teaching,
he spoke to Dorothy
Lepkowska to offer his
advice to this year’s NQTs
dward VickErman was told
E
three times that he would never make
a teacher. Severe dyslexia meant that
he often struggled with his school
work and teachers steered him towards “So i helped to introduce a level in applied business strong friendships with your colleagues, but it might in many different ways. i don’t expect my students to
vocational qualifications, rather than and BTEc in business as well as GcSE in economics. be an idea to go away on holiday with friends who are write everything down in conventional ways, which
academic ones. we almost tripled the number of students taking not teachers. means that those who have learning problems feel they
But he never gave up. “i was 16, 18 and then business.” “i am very keen to maintain friends who are nothing can achieve.
20-years-old when i was told by my teachers that i in January 2008, mr Vickerman joined his current to do with teaching so we don’t talk about work all the “You have to cater for all students, and by opening
would never make it, but that just made me even more school, Freeston Business and Enterprise college in time. However, in the first year there is always going up assessment you are creating opportunities for all
determined. wakefield, where he is head of department. to be an imbalance because you naturally gravitate pupils to succeed.
“i wanted to try to change the system. it is very “Being a new teacher is incredibly scary. You are towards people you have something in common with. “if you have a vulnerability like i have, then tell the
hard on a child to be told you can’t do something you expected to walk in and fly solo for the first time,” “making time for yourself is really important – don’t students. You don’t have to harp on about it all the time
passionately want to do. i wanted to make education more he said. “You are under so much pressure because work all the time. Plan things that are nothing to do with and only need to mention it once. But it makes them
accessible to all those kids who have special needs. the pupils know you are new and they expect you to school and are quite random. For example, i make sure aware they have someone to turn to if they have similar
“i had some great teachers at school but also some deliver. i go out to dinner once a week as it’s a nice thing to do problems. Some teachers try to hide these but i don’t
appalling ones. i have always thought that we need to “There is absolutely no doubt that the toughest year and it gets you out of the house so you aren’t always up believe this is the best way to work.”
change the way we assess children, especially those of teaching is the first year. i got through it by focusing to your eyes in books.”
with dyslexia. You cannot be assessed in written form on the little successes of each day, like a pupil saying
Classroom management
if you are struggling to write.” they had enjoyed the lesson, or that they had understood
Having a good mentor/coach
“i am still learning about this but i know that unless
His perseverance paid off. after several years in something. “i had an amazing mentor during my first year, who you have total classroom management, then you have
the hotel and hospitality industry, which included “i set up a Young Enterprise programme for was also my head of department. it gave me a huge nothing. This should be intertwined with exciting and
successfully completing a degree in hospitality the pupils which was a great thing to do because i boost knowing that there was someone i could go to engaging lessons.
management, mr Vickerman gained a place at Bradford immediately got to know a lot of pupils and even with a problem or just to share a laugh with about “children will not just behave because you want
college to do a PGcE in business. their parents. it does wonders for your self-confidence something that had happened that day. them to – there has to be mutual respect between
Last month, he was presented with the award when a parent tells you that their child is enjoying “i think that’s really important – don’t choose for a yourself and the students.
for Outstanding new Teacher of the Year at the Uk the activities you are putting on. i found it hugely mentor or coach someone who is just willing to listen “You must have strategies in place and from day
Teaching awards. Judges said he was “at the cutting rewarding seeing pupils succeed.” to you whingeing all the time. one have clear expectations of them, from which you
edge of teaching”. So what advice does this year’s Teaching award
“i had been turned down by three teacher training Outstanding new Teacher of the Year have for the
colleges because of my dyslexia, but Bradford college newly qualified teachers coming up behind him?
gave me the break i needed,” he said. “working in
hospitality gave me a great grounding for working in
Organising time
schools because i had to deal with issues such as health “Trying to maintain a work/life balance is extremely
and safety, and people complaining and needing my difficult and mine is still out of kilter after more than
attention. three years in the profession. But i suppose when you
‘
There is absolutely no doubt that the toughest
year of teaching is the first year. I got through it
by focusing on the little successes of each day, like
“i loved my jobs in hotels and my background in want to do something badly enough you just make
that industry helped me to develop a keen interest in sacrifices.
vocational education. i grew up believing that we really “i would recommend that nQTs push themselves
a pupil saying they had enjoyed the lesson, or that
need a good mix of qualifications to ensure that every to the limit in that first year. as a teacher you want to
child is catered for.” set yourself up and get established in your job and your they had understood something
His first job was at Sherbourne High School in north career. it is vitally important to get everything in place
Yorkshire where he also did his placement as a trainee, early on as a preparation for the years ahead.
four years ago. “i would recommend working as hard as possible “as an nQT you can’t be expected to know should never deviate. You should know what the school
“The pupils already knew me and as there was only and learning as much as possible, as early as you can. everything so you must never be afraid to ask for help. i policies are on different issues, but also have your own
one business teacher in the school at the time, i was “But you also need to make time for yourself. avoid needed help with some of my groups in the first year. rules for behaviour. ’
told that they would create a job for me if i managed to work during the holidays to give yourself a real break “i also picked out the colleague i believed to be the “For example, i like everyone to be lined up outside
encourage enough pupils to do business. from school. There is nothing wrong with making most outstanding teacher in the school as a kind of role the classroom and to come in and stand behind their
model, and watched how she did things. i owe a huge chairs before sitting down. it instils calm into the class.
debt to her because she taught me so much. it is usually if you deviate from the standards you have set then the
quite easy to identify such a person as they are usually pupils are more likely to take advantage and it will be
well-liked and respected by staff and pupils and usually harder to rein it back in. So you have to be strong, but
the busiest teacher in the school. also calm and clear about what you want.
“also avoid the staffroom at break times if you can, “don’t get personal with students and do not
and try not to listen too much to the whingeing of older criticise them about anything but their behaviour. if you
more experienced colleagues. You can learn a lot from are having a problem, then you need to look at your
them but because they have been in the job for a long expectations and planning.
time, they might now lack some of the enthusiasm that “after each lesson, take a couple of minutes to tidy
will get you through the day.” the room so it looks ready for the next class to begin
learning. as a teacher you should also look immaculate
Having a rapport with students
as it shows respect for your role and for the students,
“i believe there are many ways of getting through to and that you are being professional.
students and getting the best out of them. “if, like me, you look younger than you actually are
“assessment is one of those. This is crucial to the then that can also be a problem. i always make sure i
educational process but too often we rely on assessment look like an advert for Burton’s shop window so there
in a formal, written form, which is not always the most is no mistaking that i am the teacher.
appropriate way. “But don’t worry if you don’t get it right straight
“my beliefs come out of my own problems with away. no-one does, and classroom management is one
dyslexia. Pupils need to know how well they are of the hardest aspects of the job. don’t be afraid to ask
Winningways:EdwardVickermanreceivedhisTeachingAwardforOutstandingNew progressing, and this can be done through role-play or colleagues for advice.” SecEd
TeacheroftheYearfrommodelJodieKidd(above).Hisawardledtohimmeetingprime other presentations of their abilities.
ministerGordonBrownat10DowningStreet(mainpicture) “children display their talents and present their ideas • Dorothy Lepkowska is a freelance education journalist.
22 SecEd • November 26 2009
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