A Classroom Career Change – Retraining to Become a Teacher

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Wellspring Week, Wellspring's own podcast where we chat about all things education. We've had lots of experienced education leaders on the show so far, but today we're going to be getting a bit of a different insight by chatting to someone who's at the very start of her teaching career. Rebecca Corain is an early career teacher, currently teaching class three at Victoria Primary Academy in Leeds. Rebecca changed career after originally starting out working in health and safety. She then worked as an SEN teaching assistant before taking the plunge and completing her teacher training through our Josie Thurkel Institute of Education last year. Rebecca, welcome to the Wellspring Way. Thanks for joining us. Thank you. Now, first off, I'd like to know what made you make that move. What made you decide that you wanted to go into teaching?

SPEAKER_01 0:52

I was working in health and safety, and I just found that there wasn't any like give back. It was just like the same thing every day, and I just found that I wasn't really enjoying it. Um but alongside that I started my psychology masters and I found the childhood development side of it so interesting, and then I thought, why not take the step? So I started as a special needs teaching assistant, and then it just felt like the next step, it just felt right to then go on to my teaching career, and I'm loving it so far. Brilliant. So, how long were you a TA for? Uh about I'd want to say a year and a half. Um, I worked one-to-one with a few children, and then I moved on to working like as class-based. Um, and then yeah, it just felt like the right next step for me, so I took the plunge.

SPEAKER_00 1:40

And you did your teacher training through um Wells Springs Josie Circle Institute of Education. Yeah, um, what made you choose them and and how was that?

SPEAKER_01 1:51

I just found that it was a smaller provider. I did look at other ones that were quite bigger, and it just felt more personalised, like even the interview process was a lot more personalised, and I just found that I've actually gained quite good friends out of it. And Katie and Joe, I know I could ring them at any point now, and they'd still answer the phone even after finishing the training. So I just feel like it was more personalised, and they got to know you individually, um, and they were more concerned about your like mental health. There was always checking in. Is there anything more they could do? And it was just a lovely experience.

SPEAKER_00 2:24

I really enjoyed it. That's lovely to hear because we hear that you know that year of teacher training can be pretty intense, it's hardgoing. Um, what would you say is perhaps the most challenging part of teacher training?

SPEAKER_01 2:38

I think for me personally, as a mum, I have four children, and my son was one when I decided to take the plunge.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Right, a superwoman.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

Yeah, he was a bit of a surprise, but I thought I'm gonna still go for it, I'm not gonna do another year out, and I just thought I'll go for it. So I think for me it was more juggling, being a mum, teacher training, doing my PGCE. So at times it did feel a bit overwhelming when I had like my assignments due, but the support around me made it a lot easier. Like the mentors were amazing, Katie and Jo amazing. Even at Trinity, who um Josie Thirkel worked through for the PGCE, even they were really supportive. So I just think it was just nice. The whole experience I really did enjoy.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

It's that thing of having the right team around you, isn't it? 100% you can do anything if you've got the right people around you, definitely.

SPEAKER_01 3:26

And my mentor was so supportive, she's no longer at Willspring, but she was here for around seven years, and she was just a dream. Like, I went to a wedding recently, like you do become good friends, and I think that was the difference with working in a setting like this, and with Josie Thurkel, it was just so much more personalised to you, and yeah, I can't fault it at all to be honest. I've loved it.

SPEAKER_00 3:48

So, your first term in well, just coming up to your first half term, teaching class three. Yeah, what's it like? Kind of with that, you know, I'm a I'm a I'm a teacher now, you know. I've I've got a class and I'm a teacher. How does it feel? At first, I still didn't quite believe it.

SPEAKER_01 4:03

I was waiting for John to be like, no, it's a joke, and then I was like, I've settled in now, the kids are amazing, even the support staff. I think working within Victoria Primary, you have that support around you, and all the staff members are so approachable, and you can ask like your silly questions that you're not quite sure about, and everyone's just been supportive again, like I can't fault it. I think everyone around you wants you to do well and they'll want you to it to work and they want to help you, and I think that's the difference. Like, we had other ECTs here, Elsie was here, just the WhatsApp a wage, you know, and you know you need that bit of extra support, and it's just been yeah, it's been amazing.

SPEAKER_00 4:42

I mean, that's that's a good review. Uh, what would you say is the best thing about about teaching, really, in general in a general sense?

SPEAKER_01 4:51

I think the children, I do think you can see that you're making a difference, and I think that's what I was missing in previous job roles where I didn't get that satisfaction. Whereas here you can see it with the kids, like even the children we have a lot of high need here, and even those children making the relationships, that's what I think makes it all worthwhile. Like on your long days, when you know that you know one of the children, you've made a difference, and I think here with the demographical children we have, it just feels that bit nicer because it's not easy every day, we have high need, we have high behaviour, but at the end of the day, you do go home feeling like you've made a difference, and I think that is what makes it all worthwhile.

SPEAKER_00 5:32

Everybody who works in education who we have on and chat to you know, they they love what they do, it's not it's not really a job, is it? Let's be honest. It's more than that, it's it's a it's it it's a vocation, it becomes it becomes your life, really. Yeah, um and I think it's got to be a particular type of person that that really thrives in teaching. How did you know that actually yeah, yeah, teaching could be right for me? What was it that that made you feel like that?

SPEAKER_01 5:57

I think at the beginning I didn't know, and I had that like imposter syndrome like, can I do this? Am I gonna be able to do it? Am I really gonna be a teacher? And then I think once I just got into it, it just did come naturally. And I mean, yeah, it's just every day it feels like I'm making a difference, and I just feel like it just feels right. I can't explain it any other way. I just feel like this is what I'm meant to be doing in a school like this as well, with these people around me, and I just think it just does feel natural.

SPEAKER_00 6:27

Do you think that's a big part of it? It's finding the right school for you because they're all so different, aren't they? And and you know, that's that sense of fitting in and feeling like there's some kind of um match really between you and the the kids in the community.

SPEAKER_01 6:42

100%. I mean, I've always grown up in this community, so I am quite familiar with the area, and I mean some of the children live near me, so I see them out of school as well, which is always fun. Um really confused that like thought you thought you stayed at school forever. What are you doing? You see me at the park with my kids, but I think that is the other natural side of it. Like, I went to a breeze event recently, and my kids are playing with the kids here, and it just I think they see you then as more than just their teacher, and it becomes really personalised, and that's the approach here as well, with the positive regard. I think that's why I feel like I fit so well in this school because I have the same values around behaviour and how you approach things, so I just think it does just feel nice. I just feel like I fit in and I'm part of furniture now from training here.

SPEAKER_00 7:27

So, thinking about kind of the future, um, you know, it's it's early days, but have you got an idea of where you want your teaching career to go?

SPEAKER_01 7:38

Yeah, I would eventually like to go into the Senko route. Um, with having a master's in psychology, I think it'd be really nice to make most of having a teaching degree and a master's in psychology. And I do feel like there is scope for that within Wellspring, they're always looking to see how do you know that you can bet yourself, what you can do. And I've like already talked, spoke to John and Helen around like what I'd like to do, and yeah, I just think that'd be good to use both at the same time, and you know, to really make that difference. You can make a difference in the classroom, a huge difference, but also the Senko's do as well with the EHCPs and do you know observing the children? So I think it'd just be a different type of making a difference. But I would like to have a got a few other years first before I stepped into that.

SPEAKER_00 8:23

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get that get that kind of well-rounded view of it. Definitely, yeah. Um, now I want to ask you a little bit about how on earth you managed four children and training to be a teacher. I mean, that's that's some kind of superpower right there. How how how on earth did you manage all that?

SPEAKER_01 8:44

Um I'd say good time management, organisation, it's like a military operation in my house in the morning, and we have everything laid out the night before, and having a really sportive partner as well. I think without him I would not have been able to do it. Um, and he sort of took the step back and sort of done the non-traditional role of being like the stay-at-home dad and working part-time, and I've been the one that's sort of gone out and done something for me. But I think after having children, and especially because I had mine so young, I had my first daughter at 17. I was always told you're just gonna be a mum, and that's okay if that is what you want to do, but I just knew personally that was not what I wanted to do. I knew I could still do what I wanted to do prior to having children, so I think being determined and being a bit stubborn helped because I just knew I wasn't gonna get everything. A bit stubbornness helps with absolutely everything. 100%. I feel like that's what did sort of push me to keep going, even on the days where it was hard and I was tired. Um, but I think again, have working in such a supportive environment on those days, there's always people around you that will help pull you up or pick up the slack where you might not have been able to do all the printing and stuff, like you are a team here, and I think that is what makes the difference having those supportive people around you at home and at work because not everybody does get that experience. And what do the kids think about mummy being a teacher now? Oh, they love it, they go into school and be like, Well, my mum's a teacher, and I'm like, No, stop. Um but then when they come home with some homework, they're always like, Mum, can you help me? So I just feel like I'm teaching at home. You're never off, never stops, no. But yeah, they'll love it. And I think that's the other nice thing that do you know the children can proudly say, Oh, my mum's a teacher, and they're really proud of that. And I think that does make all your hard work worthwhile as well.

SPEAKER_00 10:30

Yeah. What are some of the challenges because we know it's not easy. Oh, yeah, it's a very raw rewarding job, but it's not the easiest in the world. What are some of the challenges that you're you're discovering as kind of an early career teacher?

SPEAKER_01 10:42

I think just trying to meet all the need in the classroom at one time when sometimes with the current climate and the lack of TAs and funding and things, it can be quite difficult to know that you are meeting all the need. And I mean, I've got quite a high percentage in my class. Um, so it is tricky, and it is that just trying to find different ways to work around it, and there is behaviour, and it can be challenging, and you can be drained from it. But I think having someone that you can speak to at the end of the day and reflect on and say, Well, I've tried this, and then they're always willing to give you advice and be like, Why don't we try this? or I could come in and help with this. So I think it is just that there's a lot of need, there's a lot of behaviour, there's a lot of time constraints. You're still trying to teach all the curriculum, the kids might not be ready for it yet. Um, but it's just having that support around you and knowing when to ask for help, or knowing when to say, Do you know this has happened, what might I do next time, and just being really reflective. I think that's something that's really helped me this year, and it's taken a bit of pressure off myself knowing I am an ECT and I'm not going to get everything right at all times. But as long as I've got the kids' best interests at heart and I know what I'm doing, I think is best for them. I think that's the main thing, and just always being able to reflect or read about something else, or might try this, observing other practitioners. I've found been has been so helpful. Just getting different ideas that I wouldn't have thought of because I've not been in teaching as long as other people, but that's the nice thing around Wellspring. Everybody is willing to let you just come in and watch, which I know it can be awkward at times, and you're like, oh god, what they're gonna think, but everyone has just been so willing to offer advice or let me come in and observe, and I just feel like I'm learning so much, and the kids are like learning with me, and it's just it's lovely, yeah. Yeah, we never stop learning, do we? And I think that is the key thing, yeah. Always knowing you can better your practice, and you know, you can do more. And yeah, I mean, I like reading and things anyway, so I'm always teacher Twitter, finding the next vlog. Um but yeah, no, I'm finding it. Although it is challenging and tiring, I'm finding I've got that support around me which makes it easier.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

I mean that's something that Wellspring's always been really, really strong on, I think, is that um professional generosity we call it, don't we? About kind of we share we share our skills um and knowledge, yeah, for the betterment of everybody, and that that works, that does work well. It's good to hear that that's that's filtering to everybody. Oh, yeah, 100%.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

I found that even on my training year, I knew I could speak to anyone, ask anyone, and even like the head teachers, they find time for you, and I think that's the nice thing. Do you know it's super busy for them, but they're still willing to sit down and speak to you if you've got a certain child you want help with, or do you know if you want to know what I might do about this, they are willing to speak to you and sit down with you. And I just think that's the nice thing about working with In Wellspring. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

Um what would you say to somebody who's perhaps thinking about, you know, maybe they're not 100% fulfilled in what they're doing right now, um, and they're thinking, Oh, dare I do it? Should I should I should I make that move? What would you say to them?

SPEAKER_01 13:47

I'd say just go for it. I feel like that was me when like obviously Michael was one. I was feeling like, oh, should I, shouldn't I? And I took the leap and it's been the best thing I've ever done. So I think if you are feeling that way, maybe speak to people, go into local schools, or if you're looking at like a provider like Joseph Lurkel, give Katie a ring, she would be happy to speak to you and like speak about any of your concerns. I know when I applied, I applied for the four um to seven route, so like the more nursery, and then I did a day in nursery, and I thought, no, this ain't gonna be for me. Um, so I rang Katie and she was like, Don't worry, we can do this, this, and this. So I think it is just give it a go and see what happens, and it could be the best thing you've ever done. Um, I think so anyway.

SPEAKER_00 14:31

I think, and it's that thing that you did, you know, you tried you tried it as a TA, didn't you? And got you got that experience of working in a school and and knowing a bit more about it.

SPEAKER_01 14:38

I think that was really helpful, especially working in like a specialist setting. I got to see the high level of behaviour and the high challenge. So when I walked into a more mainstream setting, although there is that need there, I feel like I was prepared for it and I wasn't worried or anxious around it, which you could be if you've not been in those settings before. So volunteer or go, do you know into a local school? I know most schools are willing to have volunteers and things, give it a try and see what you think. But yeah, 100% go for it.

SPEAKER_00 15:09

Um now then I'm gonna do our little quickfire round, find out a little bit about your own school days. What will what was school like for Rebecca? Um, first of all, art or music?

SPEAKER_01 15:23

Uh did you enjoy either? Or I wasn't a huge fan of either, to be honest. Um, but I found through teacher training I quite like art. Um and I do my drawing club and everything now. So I found I'm actually quite alright at it.

SPEAKER_00 15:39

It's funny how you find things later on, isn't it? That you, you know, you perhaps you weren't weren't fond of at school, and then later on you're like, I actually quite like this. I was yeah, and I'm okay at it, I would say.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Um yeah, definitely. Yeah. Um inset day or school trip. Ooh. School trip, I think it's really nice to see the kids out of school and you get to have a different bonding experience with them. We've just gone to Leeds City Museum not long ago, and I think it's just nice for the kids to see you out of school and for you to join in and do you know do a silly game and things with them, and I think it does help with that relationship side of things. And what about you when you were at school? School trips for you?

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Oh, yeah, I'd still say a school trip, yeah. Yeah, quite like 'em, yeah. Um are you more of a team sports or solo challenges? Oh, I think that's a tricky one actually.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

I like a bit of both. I do like a good challenge that I have to do myself, but then I have played netball and rugby and things, so I do like a team challenge as well. I think that's a tricky one.

SPEAKER_00 16:39

Um were you more carefully planned revision, or was it last-minute cramming?

SPEAKER_01 16:44

At school, carefully planned revision. I did like a highlighter and make it all look neat. Uh, as a mum of four, I would say probably a bit more cramming now. Um biology, chemistry, or physics, if you had to choose one. I would say chemistry, but at school I did triple science, so I did a bit of each of my. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:07

Um and were finally we were hands straight up or avoid the teacher's eye when she was asking questions or he was asking questions. Avoid the teacher's eye, I think.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:16

They had to draw it out of the end. Um, and finally, the last question um that we ask everybody if I could give you a magic wand um and you could change anything you wanted about the education system, what would you change?

SPEAKER_01 17:33

I would give more funding to all schools and to make sure there's a minimum of like two tiers in each class. I think more adults, more money, the amount of change you could actually make would be unbelievable. Um, the amount of interventions and things you could have going, I think it would make a difference. Um, so yeah, I'd say minimum two tiers in all classes. Wow, that'd be lovely, wouldn't it? That's a good one. And more money, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

Yeah, yeah. Because I mean we we all know that there's more and more kids presenting with um. Oh, 100% yeah, additional needs.

SPEAKER_01 18:05

And I think as teachers it can be really hard when you've got quite a few needs, you know, do you know that you are struggling to meet because of all the other need that's going on and everything else you've got to crumb in. So I think having an extra adult, yeah, the difference that would make would be unbelievable. I know some schools, I mean, some classes don't have a TA at all, so having two would be unbelievable, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:27

That would be my magic wand wish. I think I think you'd have a lot of lot of um supporters for that one if you um if you went out with that as an idea. You never know. Maybe in ten years' time. Thanks uh so much for joining us, Rebecca. It's been really lovely to kind of get that little bit of an insight into what it's like um when you first start out in this in the in this world. Um it's been lovely to hear your story, and I am still blown away by the fact that you managed to train to be a teacher whilst looking after four small children. That blows blows my way. Stubbornness. Um and thanks you to the listener for listening. We'll be back soon with another episode of The Wellspring Way. Next time we'll be joined by Executive Principal at Springwell Leeds, Mary Ruggles. She'll be sharing her experience at working in AP and discussing the importance of creating a curriculum that engages and inspires. Till then, take care, and we hope you can join us next time.