The South Coast SCITT from a Trainee’s Perspective
“You get back what you put in!! This is an exciting and rewarding roller-coaster of a course. My top tip would be consistency. If you put the effort in throughout the course then stress levels will be less – not non existent but less!! Use your initiative, this is a good post-graduate course. You get a lot of support, but you need to stand on your own feet to achieve success. It’s a fantastic course – you will love it.”
“A brilliant course. One of the best experiences of my life. TIPS – be organised – try to enjoy yourself – talk about your feelings and experiences – as a group, try to include EVERYONE – look after each other – be proud of what you are doing.”
"An absolutely fantastic, tiring but all round exceptional experience. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to teach and who is motivated to work hard. Enjoy the year, enjoy the teaching but keep up to date with the little things each week especially the Reflective Diaries!"
"Make sure you are going into this for the right reasons! This may sound harsh, but if you are attrated to the idea of teaching because you think it will be fun, easier than your current job, or you like the idea of long holidays, then you will never make it to the end of the year!
This may well be one of the most difficult years of your life, but, hopefully, it will also be one of the most rewarding, and will leave you safe in the knowledge that you have made the right career choice, as well as providing you with the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to begin your career.
“Nothing could have prepared me for the emotional rollercoaster that is the South Coast SCITT year! Be ready to give up a lot to achieve your goal. If you stay positive and keep your self belief, you will make it! I had times when I thought I couldn't make it - that's when the Tutors were amazing support, as were my SCITT buddies. Listen to all advice and no matter how challenging, do your best ti take it on board. It is a great course with personalised support. If you want it enough - keep going and you will get there. The rewards at the end far outweigh the steep up hill stuggle.”
“Be prepared! Being organised is essential for the course. Try to keep up on a weekly basis with 'Reflections' - once you get behind it's difficult to catch up again! Fellow students are a valuable source of encouragement - don't be afraid to ask for help or advice. Don't compare yourself to others, like children, teachers are all different and variety is important!”
“You will soom realise the impact of the '4 Rs' on your life and how they will get you through! Working and learning with the children makes it all worthwhile!"
“It is a roller coaster of a year. Be prepared to dif deep and give 100%, it is a lot of hard work but you get so much back. Prepare yourself for tears, laughter and sleep deprivation”
“When you’re having a bad day take some time with the children, it will remind you that it is all worth it. Small children are very perceptive, if you don’t feel in control they will know. Take the time to suss out your setting. You need to know and understand the ways of the school to make the most of your placement. Sometimes you need to just get your head down and get on with it – trust me you still learn.”
“I have found this year enjoyable, challenging and a roller coaster ride that beats any theme park! The fantastic sense of achievement felt at the finish makes the hard work seem worthwhile. The best advice for anyone thinking about doing this course would be to dig deep, keep positive and push yourself because it is all worth it! If you manage this I think you can do anything - What a great thing to be able to say!!”
“This course is one of the hardest things I have ever embarked upon! It is a tough year but the large amount of time spent in school is definately beneficial and there is a fantastic feeling of achievement at the end”
“I the mad rush of daily teaching life, remeber to stand back and realise what you have enjoyed and how far you have come because it will be over before you know it!”
“Be fully prepared for a year like no other - it will push you to the limits but you will come out stronger having learnt so much about yourself! Make sure your heart is in it - if you think it's going to be an easy ride think again! Lean on your fellow Trainees for support - they are the only ones who know what you are going through..”
“Timetable some 'me' time every week, if you don't, you won't get it! Warn your friends you won't see them for 10 months, put it in writing if you need to, so that they can't gripe when you don't make parties / dinner etc. Write down how you feel now and why you are becoming a teacher. Keep this somewhere safe, maybe laminate it, and look at it when you are feeling overwhelmed, you will need reminding from time to timr. Enjoy the children's smiles ans 'wow' moments. Ask for help when you need it.”
“The school based experience was invaluable in providing opportunities to implement the theory and get plenty of practice. It is a tough year with highs and lows but the sense of achievement at the end makes it all worthwhile. You need to dig deep and be self-reliant to get through."
“When they tell you to do your Standard Mapping Document early on – do it! Reflective Diary – do it every week or it will catch up with you!!”
“I thought my degree was full time – feels like a holiday compared to this course! It has been a real journey and I have really enjoyed it. You will think, learn and reflect a great deal.”
“It has been an amazing year! I cant believe what I have achieved but with the support of college and school it has been easy to embrace the full nature of the course. Here’s some tips for the future – buy lots of lever arch files – be organised – file everyday – share your experiences so others can learn and share with you – become an established member of your school, learn and observe effective practice – take tips from the professionals and be reflective.”
“Two main essentials for the course 1) internet at home – a must for gathering information on lesson ideas and resources (as your house will be the only place open in the very small hours of the morning) 2) Use of a car – lots of travelling to various places. A very supportive and fantastic course but you need to be very prepared for a long, hard and intense year! Stay organised, prepared and ahead of the game as much as you possibly can.”
“Sign up to MSN Messenger and put all of your SCITT friends’ emails onto it. That way when you are all working until the early hours of the morning, you will be able to see that others are suffering too! They also can help you with lesson ideas and catching up with the gossip!!”
“Listen carefully to all advice given! Trust your tutor/lecturers etc, when they say that the pace will hot up! Do as much reading as you possibly can early on in the course. You will see the time you had during the first term as a luxury later! Use this time in schools to experiment (within reason) try those things you are not quite comfortable with – you will be successful, or not, but you will learn loads.”
“Set up the practice files and compile them as you go along – ask straight away when you aren’t sure about something, nobody ever minds, if you don’t get an answer that’s useful first time, keep asking. Tell the school at the start of each practice which tasks you have to do and the dates you need to do them by. Say yes to any and every opportunity offered in school, especially anything extra curricular that you can contribute to.”
“Wow! What a year! Expect to put in what you want to get out of your training! It’s been a tough year, but a great one too. Buy lots of folders and make sure you stay organised as much as possible, it will help you in the long term. Excellent support all round. Enjoy!"
“What a year!!! A very intense and fulfilling year. The team at the SCITT are very supportive and work very hard to help trainees succeed. The course is well balanced with very useful and stimulating college sessions and exciting and enriching school placements. It is hard work but also extremely rewarding.”
|
