Schools Direct trainees in 14/15... anyone want to chat?

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

After a brief encounter with the Staffroom when doing my SD interview back in February, I wondered if anyone would be interested in a support/angst/chat thread for trainees this coming year? I have my SCITT induction days over the next few weeks and am starting to get quite excited!

Showy , Lizzylou , Tillyscoutsmum you're all starting soon, right?

[Lizziewarmington]

I support SD trainees and having only trained myself a few years ago really remember what it's like so would love to help if that's any good?

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

Lizzie that would be cracking, thank you! I was worried I would be all on my lonesome for a minute...

are you primary or secondary? Did you enjoy your training? (if enjoy is the right word!!)

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Yes . I start on 1st September in Year 2.
I've got lots of induction/inset/meeting days coming up. It's all starting to feel very real I'm excited and very nervous. Worrying about coping with the workload. Fretting about how my dc's will cope without me after being a SAHM for 7 years.

Stupid/inane question. What are you wearing for the various inductions?? I'm assuming jeans etc will be ok for the Uni induction and the INSET day, with something a bit more formal for the school based meetings/inductions?

[RevealTheHiddenBeach]

ooo i hadn't even thought of that!

If the weather stays like this, I was planning on wearing a summery dress with a cardigan. The same sort of dresses that i'll wear a denim jacket with on non work days if you get me. Not too short. I imagine jeans of the smart variety would be fine?

[Lizziewarmington]

I really enjoyed it. I'm primary and being in school from day 1 makes so much difference compared with doing a PGCE. You do have to be really self-motivated and appreciate how lucky we are to be paid to train when some people are paying 9k plus and my experience getting a job is much easier after school based training. If you assume that it's is all you'll do for the year ( it's actually 9 m really ) any free time is a bonus. My son still talks about the films he watched when ' you worked all the time' and yes I did feel guilty at times. I still work all the time but teaching does go well with ch because apart from when you're teaching you can manage your own time. Main tips keep on top of paperwork - so much easier to do when fresh in your mind and see as many schools and teachers as you can as it's much harder afterwards. Twitter and in particular the @teachertoolkit are fab. It's hard work but so are lots of worthwhile jobs and the children are just amazing. I can honestly say I have never ever been bored- well maybe in the odd assembly but that's it! Good luck, feel free to message me - lots of people helped me and sometimes you just want a second opinion from someone uninvolved.

[Lizziewarmington]

Re: jeans - I'd check our school has a no jeans policy but in other ways it's very informal.

[Tillyscoutsmum]

Thanks Lizzie