Uncategorized – Wigan & West Lancashire Catholic School Direct

A. Powers – Trainee teacher of English

Jan 222020

I have enjoyed teaching Year 7’s for the enthusiasm for learning that they have shown and the way they have applied themselves in the lessons I have taught them.

One in particular stands out. I was trying to show them the difference between tension and suspense in fiction. I blew up a balloon to popping point to see the apprehension and expectation of the bang. They clearly understood the definition of tension. Then I showed them a locked box and got them to speculate about what was inside. They then understood suspense.

What was most pleasing for me was that they could recall these definitions weeks later. Not an easy concept to understand but I felt that they grasped it brilliantly.

Mock Interview Day 2019

Jan 292019

WWLCSD offer an invaluable experience to all of our trainees in early January to prepare them as thoroughly as possible for their job applications. All trainees were given an application form to complete over the Christmas holidays, which they submitted prior to the Mock Interview day. The forms were reviewed and amended by members of the Senior Leadership Teams of two of the Partner schools, supporting statements were analysed and at times, re-phrased, and all typing errors were highlighted! At the start of Mock Interview day, feedback on these forms was given to all trainees individually which ensures that for their future applications, they can be secure in the knowledge that their application forms and supporting statements are well written and will impress any shortlisting panel.
Trainees also experienced a mock “Pupil Panel”, answering questions from discerning Year 9 pupils and then receiving feedback from both the pupils and the observer on how they came across in this part of the interview process.
They then had an individual twenty minute interview with a Head Teacher and a Professional Mentor, where they were asked typical questions which are asked at a Newly Qualified Teacher interview and received detailed feedback afterwards about each of their responses.

Responses from the trainees about this process were overwhelmingly positive:

Emma, Chemistry –

“I had a very positive experience on the WWLCSD Mock Interview Day and very much appreciated this invaluable exercise. Having not really had a job interview for many years I was more than rusty!!

After having a sample of questions to prepare for, I thought I had prepared well, and indeed the interviewers did praise me on my confidence and articulate way I answered. Where I went wrong was I just answered the questions asked and stayed within the boundaries of those questions. The Head Teacher and Professional Mentor who were interviewing me were very helpful in explaining that the questions were more an opportunity to talk about specific experiences and give examples of similar circumstances I’ve encountered. After their welcome feedback I could easily see where I had missed opportunities at the mock interview. I will take on their feedback, reflect on the advice they supportively gave to me and ensure I make every opportunity in a real interview to show my interviewers that I not only know the theory of lesson planning, safeguarding and behaviour management but can talk about times I have successfully mastered these to make them see I’m the best candidate.

The fact that so many head teachers and mentors took part in the day was extremely encouraging and supportive to us trainees. Thank you.”

Katie, RE –

“I had a really positive experience today. I found it a really useful exercise and felt like feedback was given in a really supportive environment. I also now have some key things to go away and work on. Thank you so much.”

Zeke, Computing-

“I just wanted to say thanks for today- I will take away the advice gained and will apply it to prospective employers!”

We felt very proud of our trainees on Mock Interview day. They all looked so smart and professional in their “Interview outfits” and the Head Teachers and Professional Mentors enthused afterwards about how impressed they had been with their commitment to the course and to the teaching profession. This all bodes very well as they start now to attend “real” interviews and secure their first teaching posts. We look forward to celebrating many successes in the coming months.

M. Barton Hogan – Trainee teacher of Biology

Dec 212018

Since beginning my placement at St Edmund Arrowsmith in September, I have been working with a Y7 class in their science lessons.

The class were one of the first on my timetable that I had observed, and coincidentally were the one which I took over teaching full time, and delivered my first solo (and observed) lesson to. Although daunting, this was a really enjoyable experience, and as a result, the class hold a special place in my journey and heart. Before the half term, we, as a class, completed our first module on Biology and the pupils had to undergo an end of unit test. When marking the test, I was surprised at the smile cropping up on my face when pupils were correctly answering questions on content that I had remembered teaching them. My pupils performed incredibly well, and bursting with pride, I was telling everyone I could just how happy and proud I was.

Wanting to share this pride even further and acknowledge the hard work of my pupils, my mentor advised me (as he often does) on a route of possible action to take. This resulted in my being able to send post cards to the parents of pupils who had performed above and beyond! Although this was a rewarding experience in itself, it was made even more special when I received an email from a member of the class and her mum thanking me (complete with a photo of the card on their dining table), and when in the next lesson, pupils were so grateful for their cards, thanking me with big smiles on their faces. It was such a positive teaching experience that to me sums up the ethos of WWLCSD (and Catholic schools as a whole) in sharing in joy and outstanding results, whilst ensuring pupils are reminded of their abilities and hard work as individuals.

I have since taken on more classes full time, and could not be more thankful for the support I receive from not only the WWLCSD team, my mentor and my fellow students, but also from the other teaching staff in the school. It truly is like being part of a community, and I am so happy that I chose WWLCSD, as I feel that this may have been missing for me in a more University led approach.

E. Williams – Trainee Teacher of Chemistry

Dec 142018

So my day started with a traffic jam on the M6 getting to college. Unfortunate because I’d volunteered for the “thought for the week” in staff briefing at St John Rigby this morning. Anyway I got there just in time to set up my power point and collect my thoughts. When I volunteered it seemed like a good idea! Something to evidence! Nerves kicked in just prior to my delivery but it went really well and I received positive comments from colleagues throughout the day. Then I had an observed lesson, Period 2!! I discovered about 15 minutes before the lesson I’d meticulously planned that some of the material had already been mastered by the class so I frantically set about finding more challenging tasks for them to do and changing my questions planned to accommodate this new information!! I had no confidence as I started the lesson but luckily the pupils (who can be a bit unpredictable) performed brilliantly. The extra resources quickly put together in the last moments did the trick and I scored a 2a from my Professional Mentor!!!
Then we went to St Mary’s for our School Wide Development on Technology – just as I thought the day couldn’t get any better, I learned how to colour code cells to indicate whether pupils were above or below their target grades in Excel!!!

P. Barnes – Trainee teacher of Mathematics

Nov 092018

Since September, I have been placed at St.Gregory’s CHS in Warrington. I have been the sole Maths teacher of a year 8 group for most of the first term, and at the beginning of second term we held Autumn assessments that covered all the topics I taught. The results came back strong, and two of my students have been promoted to Set 1 and I didn’t lose anyone to Set 3 which I am delighted with.

Mr. Jones and I have been running the Y8 football team and have both established great rapport with the lads who played some good football over first term, having 2 of the lads that play football in my Maths class has certainly helped me build good relationships in the classroom.

A. Nayef – Trainee teacher of Computing

Oct 262018

I have had a great experience so far with WWLCSD. I applied relatively late in the academic year, in June, unlike most of my peers who applied earlier. WWLCSD called me for an interview and showed great understanding in accommodating my need to wait to attend the interview until myself and my family had arrived in our new home in England. I was delighted to successfully gain a place on their course. Since I have not come through the English education system myself as a child, it was not as easy for me to understand the whole aspects of PGCE and School Direct programme as others, but after two days of Induction everything became much clearer.

WWLCSD are very successful in guiding and supporting their trainees during their one year journey in placement schools, university study, professional experience, and even in their personal life. They have been really supportive to some of my colleagues on the course who have found it a little difficult to adjust to the workload, and they have helped them to stay strong and stay with the programme so that they can fulfil their ambition to qualify as a teacher next summer. Thank you WWLCSD.

J. Moores – Trainee teacher of Computing

Oct 192018

This week I taught my first solo lesson. Unfortunately, it did not go entirely as I would have wished and so knocked my confidence a little .

However I was given great advice and feedback on how to improve from my Subject Mentor and from another colleague in the department and when I followed this guidance in my next few lessons they went really well . So I ended the week on a real “high”.

I am really enjoying working with and learning from both my Subject Mentor and other colleagues, and I appreciate the help they are giving me towards realising my goal of passing the course and becoming an excellent teacher.

Thank you WWLCSD!

B. Moakes – Teacher of Mathematics

Oct 122018

Today I did a presentation on what it is like to go to Oxbridge to the highest achievers at GCSE who have just entered Year 12 and the goal was to inspire some of them to think about applying to Oxbridge and to try to stamp out the idea that people from Wigan don’t go to Oxbridge and that they wouldn’t like it. At the end, about 45 of them had ticked that they were interested in Oxbridge. Also, 2 of them had noted that I did Law at Cambridge and came to me at the end and said I’m thinking of doing Law at Cambridge and asked me a few questions! I’m looking forward to hopefully hosting a question and answer session for them all.

J. Morgan – trainee teacher of Mathematics

Oct 052018

On Wednesday last week I took my first full lesson. It was a Year 9 class and I was teaching them multiplying decimals – not the most exciting of topics…

I made it interesting by discussing Formula 1 and where decimals can be found in the race cars and stats about the next race this weekend. We worked with track length and number of laps to find total distance travelled etc. It was a really positive lesson and the pupils really enjoyed it.

What I’m most proud of is that on Monday this week a fellow WWLCSD trainee was teaching the same pupils about sport in her MFL lesson and one of the pupils from my class started telling her how he was learning all about F1 in Maths with me. It was really nice that even after the rest of the week and the weekend that my lesson had stuck with him.

E. Williams – Trainee teacher of Chemistry

Oct 012018

One week into my teacher training year and I want to already thank WWLCSD for a great start to the course. When I was interviewed in December last year I was asked the question “Have you ever embarked on a PGCE course previously?” I replied honestly (as it’s best not to be untruthful in an interview!!) that I had and that a few weeks into my first placement I had some rough circumstances at home and failed to ‘keep all the balls in the air’ and ended up dropping out.

During the introduction and start of this course I have thought about that time (I often regret having dropped out thinking I could be a teacher by now – although even with hindsight the circumstances at that time for me were pretty difficult and I still feel I did the right thing at that time). Anyway I think about that course compared to this one and can honestly say that WWLCSD is excellent in comparison! I feel like I know what I’m supposed to be doing, I know what’s expected, I feel completely supported, basically I’ve been given all the tools to give me every chance to become a great teacher. Even though we’re only a week in, I don’t feel ‘bogged down’ or stressed or worried about anything. I know there will be challenges. I fully expect it to get more intense as time goes on – but I feel that it’s very ‘do-able’ and the support will continue throughout. Thank you.

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