Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community

Standard 7.1 - Meet professional ethics and responsibilities. (Understand and apply the key principles described in codes of ethics and conduct for the teaching profession.)

It is clear that to perform at a level of high teaching, there needs to be a strong code of ethics that is complied with; something i know i will strive to uphold. It is imperative that we as teachers maintain and respect the privacy of students, such as keeping their work locked up and their grades secure. Furthermore, I am vigilant in locking my own devices which contain sensitive material on them in regard to the students I teach.

Standard 7.2 - Comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements. (Understand the relevant legislative, administrative and organisational policies and processes required for teachers according to school stage.)

Whilst on placement, I ensured to comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements. I provided all of the appropriate checks such as first aid, Mandatory Reporting, child screening, and Responding to Abuse and neglect. Furthermore, I completed and achieved the LANTITE tests. I maintained up to date checks and mandatory clearances. Furthermore, I was fit to comply with every school policy and procedure the school had in place to ultimately comply with legislative, administrative and organisational requirements; evidently keeping students’ welfare safe and secure.

7.3 Engage with the parents/carers. (Understand strategies for working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents/carers)

Engaging with parents and carers is a crucial role as a teacher. Encouraging and working effectively, sensitively and confidentially with parents and carers was paramount during my 9-week placement. I was required to contact parents with my mentor’s permission, privately disclosing that their child had not completed or had failed their work. I also had the opportunity to engage in conversation with multiple carers on the parent-teacher interview nights. I always kept a professional and positive attitude when speaking to these carers and ensured I ended the conversation with positive feedback about their child. Working with parents and carers is a privilege and responsibility that should not be overlooked, as it plays a major role in the teaching career.

Standard 7.4 - Engage with professional teaching networks and broader communities. (Understand the role of external professionals and community representatives in broadening teachers’ professional knowledge and practice.)

I am currently a member on the Facebook page SAETA, and English teachers wish would have been beneficial to my teaching development so far. Furthermore, I made sure to trade contacts with everyone I worked with as I believe this will benefit me and hopefully them in the future. Also, I engaged with the community by working in the breakfast club at the school and attending and participating in their local fair called Kernewek Lowender.