Bethany Timlin - Primary trainee
Year of study
2022/23
What were you doing before SCITT?
Before starting my teacher training I was a Social Prescriber in the NHS. My previous degree was in Guidance and Counselling.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
Since being a child, I always wanted to be a teacher and I have always enjoyed helping and teaching people. However, I have a lot of friends and family within the profession who inspired me to follow my dream. There once was a time where I didn’t know what I wanted to do as a career but since teacher training started, I’ve never looked back. The job satisfaction from making a difference to young people’s lives makes it all worthwhile for me.
Why did you choose North East SCITT?
I chose North East SCITT because of the wide range of opportunities they include within such a short period of time. The resource and expertise shared throughout our training days is invaluable, the research shared is very up to date and will help me throughout my whole career as a teacher not just as a trainee. It is a very organised programme, and they are very responsive and adaptive to the cohort's needs. In addition, the North East SCITT has very high standards and they help you become a well-rounded, knowledgeable and quality practitioner whilst being supportive and approachable.
What would you say to someone considering teacher training?
I would encourage anyone considering teacher training to firstly volunteer in a school to check this sort of career is for you. Every school is different however it is worth even a day in a school to make sure you’re making the right decision for you. However, if you are considering a complete career change do not worry if you haven’t got a wealth of experience, this course provides you with all the support and opportunities you need to become an excellent teacher. You must be really organised but also be willing to put in the work. It is an intense 10 months however no days throughout the course are unhelpful. There is a lot of valuable content to learn which grows your confidence each day.
What has been your favourite part of training so far?
My favourite part of the course has been the placement and mini placements and being able to make a small impact on young people's lives. It has been so useful to see a range of different schools which all have different learning opportunities. It is also really useful to figure out which type of school I could see myself working in which helps prepare for employment in the future.
How does teacher training differ from your previous career?
Teacher training is certainly a larger workload compared to my previous career however the job satisfaction I feel from working in school is unmatched.
Do you have any tips or advice for potential trainees?
I would advise the more you put into this time throughout training the more you will get out of it. Be brave, be bold! Expect to make lots of new supportive and kind friends on this course. Everyone is lovely. Buy a good diary, it will be your PA for the next 10 months if you use it well.
