I want to be a Primary Teacher because I would like to inspire children to enjoy learning. I can motivate children through a range of teaching strategies and fun ways of learning. I feel that I have the skills and attributes required to enhance a child’s experience of school and support them in achieving their potential.
Through my PGCE placement and university lectures, I have learnt how to adapt my current knowledge and experience to my teaching. I have learnt new methods and I now know how to incorporate different styles of teaching to find what works for the children and me. I have loved every single day teaching whilst on placement because not only is every day different, but I get to be a part of the first stage of the children’s learning. Through the support and guidance of my mentor and the teaching assistants I have developed and improved through each lesson I teach. I have high expectations of all the pupils in the classroom challenging them to expand their knowledge and personal development. I have had the opportunity to help with assessing the children to identify how much they have progressed through each lesson through phonics tests and end of unit maths tests.
This degree has given me the tools and necessary knowledge to teach the subjects in the National Curriculum (NC), including phonics, spelling and guided reading. Throughout this year I will be teaching in both Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2). My first placement has been in year 2 which I have really enjoyed. Teaching year 2 has shown me first-hand the children’s passion and commitment to wanting to learn. It has also proved to me that I am made to teach primary education. Seeing the smiles and joy on the children’s faces when I’m teaching new topics to them is truly inspiring. I look forward into developing my teaching skills, ability and confidence. At my second placement, I was teaching KS2, in a year 4 class where I have learnt to adapt my skills and teaching styles to meet the needs of the children. I have learnt to improvise and think on the spot when I felt as though my lesson was not achieving what I set out for it to be and therefore regained the children’s attention and engagement.
Being patient with the children, allowing them to learn independently and to grow through what I would teach them in their lessons is key for the children to develop and enhance their knowledge. I believe that I can add my experiences and skills to tutor sessions by being compassionate, honest and patient, as well as all the other values that the school promotes. I have shown these values throughout all my experiences working with young people and throughout my placements on my PGCE course.
My strongest skill is being able to act as both a team player and a leader by listening and communicating my ideas across effectively whilst also taking on board the ideas of other people in the team. I have shown this through several teams where I have stood up and taken the leadership role throughout my undergraduate degree, allocating tasks to the team and outlining the objectives and expectations of the task at hand.
In recent years I have experienced working with young people in both primary and secondary education. Volunteering in a year 4 class gave me an insight into what teaching would be like and I absolutely enjoyed my time in the classroom. I have been given opportunities to see what the children were learning and how they were developing over a period of seven months. In recent years, through volunteering and working with an organisation called Coachbright, I was able to coach both secondary and primary children in English and Maths. I was able to give the children extra sessions to expand their knowledge in these subjects. I have also been a team leader on National Citizen Service (NCS) for the last four years working with and alongside people from all different backgrounds. Through NCS I tried to bring out the best in the young people by encouraging them out of their comfort zones and to overcome new challenges. I have been able to adapt my skills from NCS and Coachbright and transfer them to the classroom when teaching. Managing behaviour is one of my main strengths where I use the resources provided in the classroom and my own initiative to enable a safe and enjoyable working environment for all children.
I am a highly motivated person and very organised in everything that I do. I have worked well in teams and on my own to reach our targets and to succeed. If there’s one thing that I have learnt from all my experience, it is that communication is key. I believe that I can communicate effectively with the children in the class, the teachers and other stakeholders. Another strength of mine is creating a safe learning environment where the children also enjoy and have fun whilst learning. I have also been able to create professional relationships with both the teachers and the children. I believe the best classroom for children to learn is not only an informative one but one that provides space to express themselves in a secure environment, which can help to enhance their independent learning. It is important for me that the children are given the opportunities to be creative, imaginative and curious. Getting to know the children in the classroom has enabled me to differentiate my lessons to suit the specific academic needs of the children, including those that need extra support and attention. From working and volunteering with children and young people of all ages, I have learnt to adapt my strategies to manage behaviour.

I have taught lessons in English, Maths, PE, Science, Music, RE, Art and DT. I have reflected on all my lessons in order to know what went well and what I need to improve on. My reflections have aided my teaching development, especially when hearing feedback from my class teacher and my university tutor through their observations. I aim to be creative and to bring new ideas into the classroom.
I strive to be the best person and role model I can be. I am always open to learn and share teaching practices amongst people and I believe that I can bring positivity and creativity into the classroom and the school, as well as within the school community. I am an enthusiastic and passionate individual willing to adapt and learn as much as I can whilst also encouraging the children to reach their potential.