Jenna Maynard - Primary trainee

Year of study

2022/23

What were you doing before SCITT?

Before joining SCITT I was a full time artistic gymnastics coach.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I really wanted a career where I could work with younger children and be a part of their growth and development from the early stages of their lives. I felt that teaching was the most rewarding job that could be done and I loved the idea that I was going to be an integral part of shaping a child’s future. The reason I chose primary teaching was the variety of different subjects you can teach! I love the idea of teaching 3 or 4 (or sometimes more!) different lessons all in one day. Also, you can’t beat some of the stories that the young children want to tell you every day!

Why did you choose North East SCITT?

I know a few teachers who previously did this course and they rated it very highly. I also had a look at reviews from previous trainees and was impressed with how highly North East SCITT was recommended. The website was also very user friendly and very easy to navigate, and when I rang up to enquire about the application process the staff were extremely helpful and friendly right from the start.

What would you say to someone considering teacher training?

Don’t be afraid to take the plunge if this is something you are interested in, it has been the best decision for me! I was worried that I would be ‘too old’ to start my teacher training, but the previous experiences I have had, particularly working full time for seven years in a previous job, have proved to be very useful and beneficial to many aspects of the course so far.

What has been your favourite part of training so far?

I was really excited to just get into schools and start teaching! When I went into my first placement I was extremely nervous as although I had taught children for many years before in gymnastics, I had never experienced working in a classroom environment. However my first placement school and mentor made me feel like I was a part of their school from the start and I had the best experience! I can’t wait to get started in my new placement school so I can start teaching again.

How does teacher training differ from your previous career?

I previously coached gymnastics which allowed me to work with children of all ages, however teaching children the skills and tools they need, such as writing and reading, is a completely different ballgame. Although extremely rewarding!

Do you have any tips or advice for potential trainees?

If you want to buy anything at all before you start, buy a ‘to do’ notepad or a diary! The workload during your training year can seem like a lot, but if you keep on top of it from the start then it is a lot more manageable. Also, I never thought I would form such close friendships with the other trainees in the cohort, but it is lovely to know that there are another 20 or so people going through and feeling the same things as you, so make sure you ask them for help and speak to other trainees whenever you need to!