Here at s1jobs, we’re talking to a series of professionals working in different industries to give you an insight into the training required for a variety of roles and what you can expect from day-to-day tasks. We’re kicking things off with the education sector.
Name: Susan Clunie
Job: Primary School Teacher
Employer: Fife Council
Location: St Columba’s RC Primary School in Cupar
Where did you gain your qualifications as a teacher and what was your route into teacher training? Did you gain classroom-based experience before qualifying?
As I decided to enter the teaching profession later in life, I already had a degree of knowledge about child development and education. I wanted to return to university to study education but as the places are highly sought after, I wanted to maximise my chances of getting a place and so enrolled on the HNC Early Years Education and Childcare at what was then Fife College. This gave me vital experience of working in the classroom three days per week as well as completing modules, which would stand me in good stead at university.
The experience I gained in the classroom meant that I could answer my interview with more confidence and I believe this helped me secure a place at The University of Dundee. I had applied for teacher training at Moray House some years before but due to my lack of experience I wasn’t offered an interview.
How important is it to have a degree when going into teaching?
Having a degree in education is vital to a teaching career. Some teachers opt to study the four year honours course in Education (BEd) while some prefer the one year PGDE. Both options prepare students well for life in the classroom.
Do you have any experience of the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS) in Scotland?
I participated in the teacher induction scheme (TIS). This was a very enjoyable, but challenging year. Being new to the profession, the advice given by colleagues was invaluable in helping my progress through that first year.
Would you consider working in an independent or more specialised school, such as religious or special needs?
I am currently employed in a denominational primary school and enjoy the post greatly. The curriculum in a Catholic primary school doesn’t differ greatly from non-denominational schools, but there is greater emphasis on the teaching of RE. We have prayers four times daily and attend mass both in and out of school. When I qualified as a teacher I did not expect to be working in a denominational school. I enjoy the community ethos immensely and I would gladly stay in the post for as long as possible. However, I am not Catholic myself and have not completed the Certificate for Catholic Education and so I am unsure how long I will stay here.
What are the biggest challenges of your job today?
The challenges of teaching for me are mainly surrounding my own time management. Being prepared is essential and when you are busy and have outside interests, it is often a battle against time to get things ready. The nature of teaching means that every day is different. This might not suit everyone but I find that it keeps things fresh! Planning and preparation takes a lot of time, especially in the beginning, when you have yet to build up a bank of resources and tried and tested activities.
Ensuring that children know what they are learning and why is important, as is keeping the learning relevant to them and their lives. It is sometimes a challenge to remember that children come to school with various degrees of experience and often have very different situations to contend with at home. It is important to reflect on your own performance and see where you need to improve.
There are always demands on teachers, from parents, children and day to day school life. This can be difficult but it is not impossible!
What are the most positive aspects?
Reading the above, you might wonder why teachers actually teach. But the positives, for me, far outweigh the negatives. Working with children can, at times, be very hard. But for the most part, it brings a lightness and joy to the simplest of things. Seeing the ‘eureka’ moment after a long struggle is hard to beat. You can have fun, make learning exciting and give children the best you experienced yourself but put your own stamp on it. I love seeing children who are proud of what they have achieved. They might not remember the small steps but I remember lots of them.
Can you describe your workload in and outside of the classroom on a typical day?
The workload differs day to day. I generally plan in response to the lessons in class. Rather than planning a complete week I plan a few days at a time and resource as necessary. This ensures that little time is wasted. It saves planning, for example, maths for the week and gathering resources, only to discover after the first day that some children need more input on a particular concept before they will be ready to move on. I usually have a skeleton plan of how I intend the week to progress and complete it in greater detail as learners progress. What is most time consuming is sourcing/making resources to suit lessons I have planned.
The best lessons come from creative thought and not with ready-made worksheets! Not all children are visual learners so taking account of learning styles is also important. It is sometimes difficult to prepare resources for active learning sessions. Many a long evening with the laminator and paper. The only thing that I like to make sure I do each day is any marking. There is always enough work to be done each day without adding extra!
What do you see as the next step for you, should you wish to progress in your career?
Because I entered the profession later in life I don’t see myself wanting to move into a management role. I enjoy the time I spend with the children and that is leadership enough for me!
Do you have any other tips for anyone thinking of getting into teaching in Scotland?
The advice I would give to anyone wanting to teach is to make sure that it’s for you by getting some sort of experience in an educational setting. Don’t let people dissuade you with comments of never-ending paperwork and demands by management/local authority. There are negatives to any career – but you’re lucky if you can do something which you love and get paid for it. Make sure you are aware of priorities in education and keep an ear out for what’s happening, local and national initiatives. Teaching is, at its core, a caring profession. If you care, make sure others know about it and can feel your passion.
Are you a teacher in Scotland? Why not leave some comments about Susan’s interview based on your own experiences?
Image by Cali4beach used under Creative Commons license.