Lisa Keech - Biology trainee

Year of study

2019/20

Tell us about your route into teaching...

For the last 17 years I worked as an occupational therapist for the NHS and a private company.

What inspired you to become a teacher?

I became an occupational therapist because I wanted to help people achieve their full potential, no matter what obstacles they would have to overcome - there are similarities between occupational therapy and teaching. I started thinking about teaching well over 10 years ago, but for a long time felt it was not financially viable. However, the government bursary has enabled me to follow my dream - I feel like being a teacher is my true vocation (as cheesy as that sounds!).

Why did you choose Shotton Hall SCITT?

I could not imagine myself being a ‘student’ again, so the university led route did not appeal to me. I wanted to be in a school environment from day one, being trained ‘on the job’. I looked at different providers, but everything about Shotton Hall SCITT stood out as being superior – the website is excellent, and if I’m honest I quite fancied graduating from Durham University! The availability of the school experience days made me want to visit and the communication from the team was second to none. By the end of the ‘back to school’ morning I had made up my mind – I was going to change career, and Shotton Hall SCITT was going to be the place I did it (despite being much further away from my home than other providers). I felt so confident that the training would be top quality, and I would be really well supported.

What has been your favourite part of training so far?

I love being in the school environment with the kids, so my mini placements have been great and I’m really enjoying my teaching practice placements.

How does teacher training differ from your previous career?

It feels like I’m doing what I was born to do, not just a job that I happened to have trained for because I decided it was what I wanted at the age of 17.

Do you have any tips or advice for potential trainees?

Spend time in schools, do your research, be sure it’s what you want.