Evangeline Holland - Primary trainee

Year of study

2019/20

What were you doing before SCITT?

I was studying at university while working/volunteering in schools across the North East to gain classroom experience.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

Before starting university, I took a gap year to teach abroad with Project Trust, an educational charity in Namibia, and discovered my passion and love for teaching - I knew I had to come back and get a degree so that I could complete my teacher training. I actually planned to study journalism and had a place at Cardiff waiting for me, but when I discovered how much I loved teaching I had to change my plans.

Why did you choose Shotton Hall SCITT?

The SCITT offered a two week paid teaching internship for undergraduate university students. I heard about the internship, applied and completed my placement at Browney Academy - one of their trust schools. While there, I experienced teaching and learned more about the SCITT and it won me over. I knew Shotton Hall were the people to complete my teaching training with.

What would you say to anyone thinking of teaching?

It’s not just a cliché when they say teaching is one of the most rewarding careers - it is. You see your impact day in, day out and you get to make thirty new friends every year. If teaching is for you, you will know it as soon as you step into the classroom. It will be scary but eventually you find your feet.

What has been your favourite part of training so far?

Watching myself develop into the teacher I am going to be. When I stood in front of my first placement class for my first lesson, I was trembling with fear and nervousness. Three weeks later, while on the same placement, I had taught my first full day and it felt amazing. I was no longer trembling, I was excited and confident.

Do you have any tips or advice for potential trainees?

Don’t let your worries stop you from entering the classroom, we all make mistakes and it’s more than OK. It’s important for the children you work with to see you slip up from time to time; it lets them know that it’s OK for them to slip up too. Sometimes getting things wrong is how we learn and grow.