INSET, also known as “in-service training”, can feel like your ‘first day of school’. This is our guide to what happens on INSET day.
Timetable of the day
INSET days vary in content depending on the time of year, phase and priorities of the school. However, most INSETs at the beginning of the year will involve at least one day of safeguarding training, sharing school priorities/ vision, CPD, time to prepare classrooms and meeting colleagues.
What should I bring with me?
Your school should have communicated if there is anything specific that they want you to bring. Make sure to bring a notebook, diary to note important dates and pen. If you have gathered some items to decorate your classroom, INSET can be a good time to bring them in to get set up in your new room.
What should I wear?
Have a look at any dress-code policies on the school website and think about what you saw other people wearing if you attended an in-person interview. Expectations for dress are normally more relaxed on INSET than normal work days, however, it is generally better to be over than underdressed. It is unlikely that anyone will be wearing suits and ties, but also generally not sports clothes either.
Expect to be overwhelmed
You will be receiving a LOT of information. No one expects you to remember it all, especially if you’re an ECT or new to the school. Try to note down key information but make sure to utilise the experience of those around you, and remember that policies should be clearly accessible on the school website if you need a refresher. Subject leaders are there to answer your questions and were all new starters at one point!
Make time to chat and EAT
Prioritise time for forming connections with colleagues. Yes, it may be tempting to spend your lunch break putting up that beautifully laminated display, but don’t neglect getting to know people who will be able to support you and help you put up displays terms or years from now! One of the best ways to do this is eating lunch in the staff room and chatting to anyone wandering around. INSET days are busy and there are lots of moving parts and people, so equally, don’t get disheartened if you feel that someone seems occupied or not up for a chat. Finally, make sure you eat something! Fainting during safeguarding training is not the first impression you want to be making!
Signed,
What are your questions or advice for INSET days? Comment below.
Do you have a memory from school that you totally cringe at? Something you were so awful at that you swore you’d never touch it again?
Baby Ticked Off teacher still remembers their art teacher holding up a piece of work from a ‘child in the other class’ and declaring that it was ‘the worst piece anyone had handed in’. With their name clearly permanent markered on the side and children sniggering around them, they vowed to never again even touch a Crayola crayon.
Fast forward, and today’s blog is coming to you from under a mound of shiny new drawing pencils and an ambitiously thick sketchbook. Teachers-in the main- enjoyed school, this one included. To become a teacher requires jumping through a near-decade of academic hoops and learning about a wide range of subjects and disciplines. Many of us have had a pretty easy time learning and are passionate about our jobs, this can actually make it harder to connect to our most difficult students.
I say ‘difficult student’ and one immediately pops into your head. The one that you see is full of promise and you don’t understand why they can’t just ‘get it’. My challenge to you is to try and improve at something you’re really rubbish at, whether that’s art, languages, sport etc. You’ll soon find that the hours spent creating your growth-mindset display didn’t make it all the way into your brain.
Remember the discomfort you feel, the inadequacy and sheer additional effort you have to put into something you don’t like and aren’t immediately good at. That is likely close to the experience of not just ‘that’ student, but of many others sitting in your classroom. Remind yourself of the successes and strategies in overcoming your own rubbishness and share them with your students. It’s a powerful exercise for educators to become empathetic learners.
Signed,
What are you going to challenge yourself to try before September? Comment below.
Still lying awake thinking about your planning? You need our help!
Most teachers in the UK have been on holiday for a few weeks now. However, if you’re anything like the Ticked Off Teacher, you’re still struggling to slip into full holiday zen mode. Today we’ve gathered up some tried and true techniques for making the most out of your time off.
1) Get away early and have a change of scene
If you’re lucky enough to be going on holiday, try to suppress the urge to keep working and get yourself straight on a holiday. The change of scene can really help to put distance between you and work. Try to go somewhere with no visual reminders of school or children, think adults-only resort! If you’re planning on staying at home, do your best to remove cues that are going to remind you of school. Leave your teacher bag in the cupboard for at least a week so you can begin to unwind.
2) Unplug
It can be tempting to relax by spending those forbidden midday hours scrolling mindlessly through your phone. However, you’re bound to come across posts from a teaching group, an update from a colleague, or yet another classroom ‘inspiration’ picture to drag you mentally straight back to work. If you have time, perhaps think about creating ‘teacher’ social media to keep your personal and professional scrolling separate. Try and spend the time doing things you wouldn’t normally have the time to do and making the most of places being less busy midweek.
3) Routine
You have sleep to catch up on right? Yes, but try to keep yourself in a somewhat regular routine of sleep, eating and exercise etc. otherwise you can find yourself becoming more groggy and exhausted! You will spend the first weeks of term getting the children in a good routine, now listen to your own advice!
4) Indulge in some self-care
Bubble baths, gardening, walking, whatever it may be. Make time for the things that make you feel good and you don’t normally have time for. Try making a list at the beginning of the break and seeing how many you can tick off. It can be useful to schedule things in advance and try to hold yourself accountable to stop self-care from being something else to put off to tomorrow.
5) If you must work…
Some people benefit and feel more relaxed by getting things done. Try not to get yourself into a cycle of finding yourself work-related jobs to do to keep yourself busy. This can sometimes feel easier than thinking and organising things that you actually want to do. As with self-care, try and make a list of tasks that actually need completing and days you’re going to block off to complete them. Make sure the tasks are meaningful and productive and not an excuse for not having found anything better to do.
Overall, enjoy yourself! You have worked very hard all year and deserve this break. Come back in September rested and refreshed and ready for another round!
itt? scitt? tf? sd? Here’s our jargon-busting guide to the pros and cons of the major teacher training routes available in the uk now
The UK is facing a teacher recruitment and retention crisis. We desperately need more teachers and need to make the options available clearer and more accessible. Everyone in teaching has an opinion of different routes of ITT and more often than not you’ll hear the horror stories, rather than the majority of successful teachers that train every year. I hope this guide highlights some of the major similarities and differences and that you’re able to cast aside the horror story you hear about your aunty’s neighbour’s neice’s friend who hated their [insert ITT name here].
Quick jargon buster
ITT – ‘initial teacher training’, the scheme where you learn to be a teacher
QTS – ‘qualified teacher statues’, the certificate you get from the government at the end of your scheme that proves you can teach legally
PGCE – ‘postgraduate certificate in education’, 1/3 of masters credits, essays about theoretical teacher things that are submitted
PGDE – ‘postgraduate diploma in eduaction’, 2/3 of masters credits, only offered by Teach First, can ‘top up’ to a full masters
SCITT – ‘school centred initial teacher training’, a teacher training route where you are based in a home school
PGCE/ University based
The ‘traditional’ entry route into teaching. A PGCE course is taken after the completion of an undergraduate degree, at a university over one year full-time (or two years part-time). Those without an undergraduate degree can complete a three or four-year course following a similar model of a combination of university study and school placement.
Pros
Most supportive – access to wide variety of support at university and on placement
Doesn’t throw in at the deep end, more opportunities for practise with peers and more gradual approach to teaching placements
Having placements in a variety of schools means more opportunities for job offers and an environment in which to make mistakes, knowing you never have to go back
Better work-life balance with more allowances and time scheduled to complete university assignments
Cons
Some people find the theoretical work at university less applicable to the classroom and find they ‘switch off’
Less direct experience and responsibility in the classroom, PGCE students often get more of a ‘shock’ during their ECT years
Fewer opportunities for learning to balance workload as it is planned to be reasonable and manageable
Price – university-based routes cost money! Bursaries are available (for specific subjects) but it can feel galling knowing that other people gain more real-world experience and are paid to get the same qualification
Best for… students who want the most support and varied experience in their teaching practice.
Worst for… those with extensive experience working with children/ in schools and paying for your training.
School Direct
School Direct offers trainees the opportunity to be based in a single school, with one day a week at university. Students normally sign-up through an area of local education authority and will be placed in a school in that area. It offers the positives of the PGCE support at university, with more time in the classroom. Like the PGCE, most School Direct options require the payment of university fees, however, there are some salaried routes available. Make sure to keep this in mind when narrowing down providers.
Pros
Close relationship with a single school – staff, children, parents and community
Ability to watch an entire school year unfold and witness the ‘pinch points’ of the year – e.g. Christmas, report writing
Access to parts of school life you wouldn’t as a PGCE student – e.g. school trips, parents evenings, which are all excellent training
Support of university staff and cohort one day a week at university
Cons
The majority of your training being in one centre means that if you have issues with staff, or are not being properly supported, you’re more stuck
You’re at the mercy of in-school training by staff who although well-intentioned, are often being pulled 1000 different ways, you may need to be assertive to make sure your needs are met
Fewer close relationships with university staff – can make reaching out for support with assignments or references for further study more difficult
Some people choose not to remain in the school that they have trained in for fear that they will always be viewed as a ‘student teacher’
Best for… seeing a wide variety of experiences and watching the school year unfold in a single setting.
Worst for… those who struggle to make sure their needs are met and not going to be willing to speak up and seek support.
SCITT
SCITT, like School Direct, is an on-the-job teacher training route. It’s becoming increasingly more popular, although currently the least common route on this list. SCITT is where applicants approach the school directly and then receive additional training through a group of partnered institutions. It’s a popular route for those with existing relationships with a school, e.g. previously working as an unqualified supply or teaching assistant. SCITTs can also be run by faith organisations and are becoming an increasingly popular route for training teachers in faith schools. Due to the nature of lack of centralisation of SCITT, some providers are salaried and others are not, make sure to research this thoroughly before approaching institutions.
Pros
Can continue to work in a school where you already have relationships
Good chance of receiving a job offer as a candidate that has previously worked at the school
Choice of location of school you train at, useful for people with responsibilities that need to be able to plan
Opportunities to choose to train in a school in your own cultural/ faith community
Cons
Similar cons as School Direct, you need to be a self-starter and able to advocate for your own needs
Especially if you’ve previously worked in the school – it can be harder to command respect in your new role from children and parents
Other teachers, knowing you as a competent TA/ previous staff member, might need reminding that you’re training for a different job and will still need support in your role and training as a teacher
It can be easy to get drawn into activities/ responsibilities of your old job as a ‘favour’, when your workload has increased and you need to make clear the additional demands on your time during your training
Best for… people with experience working in a particular school setting and want to continue to work there, students that want a high-level of autonomy in choosing school placement.
Worst for… relying on the effectiveness and constraints on existing staff at the school as there is less opportunity for outside input if your training isn’t high quality.
Teach First
The ultimate baptism by fire, Teach First is the training route that everyone has an opinion of. Here are the basic facts: a six-week residential of initial training, followed by two years of teaching, with support from a partner university to complete a PGDE. Teach First was set up as a scheme with social justice at its heart, aiming to eradicate educational inequality by matching graduates with challenging schools. Teach First has a certain amount of caché due to its corporate sponsors and PGDE (2/3 of a masters degree). However, it also has a reputation for attracting trainees with self-interested motivation, who move on to other sectors after their two years. Teach First trainees receive an unqualified teacher’s salary for the first year, then after gaining QTS at the end of the first year, go on to the main pay scale in their second year.
Pros
Guaranteed salaried route
Guaranteed school place to complete ECT training, so can look for main scale jobs more quickly
Higher-level academic qualification (PGDE) and opportunity to ‘top-up’ to a masters for free
Caché of the ‘Teach First’ brand and networking opportunities with sectors outside of education
Strong focus on networking and ‘ambassadors’ means that there is an instant connection with many people working and starting-up in social justice and education sectors
Cons
At the mercy of your school and the quality of training it provides
Support can feel disjointed as you have mentors in school, at TF, at university etc.
Schools tend to face more challenging problems – there’s a reason they struggled to recruit through normal channels…
‘Cult’ of Teach First – people can be disparaging about Teach First trainees and you often have to work harder to show your motivation and work ethic
Best for… people who want access to networking opportunities, clear salary and progression, who work well under pressure and learn quickly on the job.
Worst for… those who are not self-confident walking into teacher training, you will not have your hand held and trainees report being left to sink or swim.
Signed,
Want to share your ITT advice? Things you wish you’d known to prioritise? Comment blow.
Ideas for new teachers/ NQT/ ECT/ PGCE students to get their heads around over the summer to give a flying start to the new year
School’s out for summer! At least for the kids… This time of year can be a nerve-wracking countdown for new teachers. Your ticked off teacher is here to give you the advice they wish they’d been given to help you get ahead on the new year’s planning, while balancing a break.
1) Get your space organised
It’s tempting to spend your summer scolling through Pintrest and dreaming of that perfectly decorated classroom. Fast forward to a few weeks in and you suddenly realise you want to swap everything around and your beautifully curated displays are already looking ragged. Focus on getting your room clutter free. You’d be amazed at the things you’ll find in the back of the cupboard, but get ruthless. Check with the previous teacher that they have fully moved out and then get to chucking. I promise no one is going to come looking for those spelling tests from 2004!
Make sure that things are organised and arranged the way YOU want them. This is your space now, feel free to get rid of things that aren’t useful to you. You’ll create enough of your own clutter throughout the year without holding on to inherited rubbish. The only things you need to be bringing in to add to the space are a few essentials for your cohort – coat peg labels etc.
2) Put down the IKEA family card
Following the first piece of advice, it can be so tempting when looking at inspiration pictures to want to buy lots of fun little ‘bits’ and ‘essential’ organisation systems. STOP! Remember that those classrooms you are viewing have been built up over years, no one is expecting a new teacher’s classroom to look like that. Many Pinterest classrooms are also in America where there are different expectations for decoration and how much a teacher is to provide themselves for the room. Don’t bring extra clutter into the room before living and teaching in the space for a few weeks. You’d be amazed both at what you find in storage rooms in schools, and just how much those ‘incredible’ and ‘essential’ bits of teacher tat will get in your way.
3) Start some planning
Whether or not teachers should work or plan over the holidays is a divisive topic, especially as you are not yet working at the school. My advice is to make sure you’re au fait with any schemes of work that they use, and have been given access to any shared planning. Further than that, getting your head around the term dates and weeks can be one of the most helpful things. From there, working out how many of each lesson you’ll be teaching and then planning out L.I.s can be useful if you are responsible for planning. Walking in in September with the general shape of the scheme of work and curriculum can be really useful in helping you feel more confident and knowledgeable.
4) Make some (teacher) friends
Hopefully you will be coming into your first year of teaching with some friends from your training route and have had the opportunity to meet your new colleagues at a transition day. However, I can’t suggest making friends with other teachers completely out of your circle highly enough. While a little old fashioned, Facebook seems to be the mainstay of the teacher social life. Try searching for a group that reflects your new role, ‘Year 3 and 4 teacher’, ‘Primary teachers in the North East’ etc. You will find thousands of groups on there. It is perfectly acceptable in these larger groups to merely lurk, although people are always very supportive and want to support new teachers if you would like to introduce yourself. These groups regularly share resources, advice and grumbles, so are a great place to feel less alone and score some inspiration and free resources.
5) Relaaax
You had a life before teaching, you’ll have a life after teaching. Taking on your first role in class can be exciting, scary, and daunting. Try not to view this summer as a ticking time bomb. Do as much as feels exciting and helps you feel more prepared. However, if you’re wondering if you’re doing too much, the answer is probably yes! Teaching is a demanding profession and you’re doing no one any favours if you turn up already overworked and exhausted in September. Getting to Christmas can definitely feel like a marathon, so make sure to relax and look after yourself first. You’ve got an exciting and challenging few months ahead so forget ‘perfect’, ‘Pinterest’ and ‘prepared’, turn up YOUR best self in September, you’re going to be great!
Signed,
Comment your best advice, what you wish you would have known, or questions for a future post below.
Ticked Off Teacher 