Personal Statement

My aspiration for teaching came from my previous experiences in a classroom setting. I discovered that teaching is an opportunity to improve the lives of young people and this is what inspired me the most. I realised that the skills and knowledge acquired in a classroom are most important as they will be used by young people throughout life. Therefore, as a teacher, I hope to be a role model that cultivates in young people and encourages them to succeed in society.

I value inclusiveness and providing an opportunity for all children to succeed. This is especially true in maths lessons where all children should be given the same attention and opportunities to succeed despite the levels of ability. My research on maths anxiety suggests that often children feel undervalued when they are placed in ability groups during a maths lesson. When children are labelled by groups based on ability, they start to lose their self confidence and this results in them having a fixed mindset. I would like to create a classroom whereby all pupils develop a growth mindset and believe with hard work, resilience and perseverance, they can achieve anything possible.

I believe that my past experiences of teaching in a primary school have enabled me to develop a range of practical skills which are needed to become a teacher. I can manage challenging behaviour effectively, conduct activities safely and communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. Moreover, I believe I am creative and enjoy sourcing materials that make learning fun for children. I aim to inspire children to have a willingness to learn by creating exciting and engaging lessons so that no day is ever the same. I look forward to improving the lives of young people and will continue to be a role model to them, constantly learning and developing my teaching ability.

Qualifications

GCSE'S

English Literature and Language - B

Maths- B

Dance- B

Religious Education- B

Additional Science- C

Geography- C

History- C

Spanish- C

A Levels

Philosophy- B

English Literature- C

Dance- C

Degree

Bachelor of Arts: Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Bachelor of Arts with Second Class Honours (1^st Division)

Work and wider relevant experiences

• 2015- 2 weeks KS2 placement in a year 6 class

• 2016- 4 weeks KS2 placement in a year 4 class

• 2017- 6 weeks Early years KS1 placement in a nursery class

• 2016- 2019 3 years working in Topshop

Work and wider relevant experiences

• (June 2015) Northwood Primary School, Kirby. (2 weeks)

Acting teaching assistant to a year 6 class, was given the opportunity to assist children on school tips after their SATS. This allowed me to recognise and understand the importance of safeguarding outside of school premises.

• (June 2016) Wellesbourne Primary School, Norris Green, Liverpool. (4 weeks)

Acting teaching assistant to a year 4 class. I observed the classroom teacher and had many opportunities to work with small groups of children, improving their reading and spelling skills as well as assisting particular children with their mathematics in order to help bridge some gaps in their learning.

• (May-June 2017) Wellesbourne Primary School, Norris Green, Liverpool.

Acting teaching assistant to a nursery class. This involved attending to children's daily needs and preparing them for pre-school. Organised fun and educational activities, prepared snacks and meals, and monitored the children's safety. I also had the opportunity to do some learning outside the classroom.

• (Aug 2016- Nov 2019) Topshop, Liverpool.

Sales advisor, used the tills and learnt how to handle cash correctly as well as deal with numerous refunds and often resolving other issues. This experience developed my confidence when dealing with unexpected situations and know how to handle them effectively. Being an active team member is one of my biggest strengths as I understand how important it is to maintain a good relationship with colleagues, working together to promote a positive work environment.

Professional Practice Phase One

Onchan Primary School November 2019 – February 2020

Brief Summary of Experience :

During my time at Onchan School I had the opportunity to work in KS1 in a Year 2 class. It was a great experience, allowing me to develop professionally as a teacher. Throughout this experience I observed, planned and taught my own lessons. I helped out with the Christmas play, Christmas Fayre and even had an opportunity to sit in on a parents evening. Most importantly, this placement allowed me to develop relationships with all the children in my class based on mutual respect. I realised that every child is different and was able to fit my teaching to the needs of all pupils. I learnt how to keep a good pace throughout my lessons and manage behaviour effectively, always linking to the schools policies. I also had the opportunity to assess children's writing and reading to gain a better understanding of how to assess children's work. I assisted children in small intervention groups in order to bridge the gaps in their learning. I also marked the pupils work following the schools marking schemes and often gave verbal feedback. This placement developed my leadership and confidence as a teacher.

Days in School: 60

Professional Practice Phase Two

St Philip's Church of England Primary School, February 2020

Brief Summary of Experience :

During my time at St Philip's Primary School I had the opportunity to work with KS2 in a year 3 class. Throughout this experience, I had the opportunity to observe many lessons and plan and teach some lessons of my own such as: Maths, English and R.E. I had the opportunity to experience other activities going on in the school such as school assemblies, world book day, science day and worship. This placement specifically allowed me to develop new behaviour strategies as I often dealt with poor behaviour and learned how to manage it effectively. The short time spent in this placement allowed me to develop relationships with all the children and staff and also become aware of how important the safeguarding and well-being of the children is, especially with COVID-19 being an issue during this placement.

Days in School: 10

Enhancement Experiences

• SEN Training online and worked with a SEALS class in the Isle of Man

• Behaviour for Learning Training