In 2018, I fulfilled a life long ambition and I became Mrs Patel, Teacher of Business, ICT and Geography. I volunteered in a school, spoke to a head teacher, passed the Maths and English skills test and applied to teach. I started unqualified teaching positions whilst I waited to start my course. An Advertising Practitioner by profession, I was inspired by The Department for Education's TV, Social Media and Radio campaign which featured a real teacher making a difference in students' lives. Hence, my #getintoteaching journey had started and I didn't even realise the influence the campaign had on me until my journey was completed in 2020.
I researched the routes into teaching, there are 3 main routes suitable for people at different stages in their life. I chose a PGCE University route via a SCITT leader which involved being placed in a main school for the duration of the year and working in a second contrasting placement. The route was on the job and I had the opportunity to attend inspiring professional tutor lectures and subject lectures at Roehampton University. I met other like minded professionals and a supportive cohort of excellent teachers and schools.
The campaign aimed to inspire people to consider teaching as a career, thus highlighting the role teachers play in shaping the lives of the students they teach and to present teaching as a creative and vibrant career.
Throughout the awareness, consideration and final application I was encouraged by the "Get into teaching" campaign. I was reminded at home whilst cooking; driving in the car; browsing social media or watching tv, the vital role teachers play in a child's life. The TV, radio, social campaigns worked and I am grateful to everyone who has been part of my journey and provided references for me from colleagues in the media industry, to head teachers who encouraged my route and teachers who supported me. If you have the ambition, build your network, ask questions and support one another. Teaching is one of the most challenging yet rewarding careers because children deserve the highest quality of education.
I qualified in July 2020 with a PGCE in Secondary School from Roehampton University and Thamesmead SCITT. I was placed in an excellent teaching school, Bishop Wand Church of England and Thamesmead. I have become a confident, reflective and passionate practitioner who knows I can make a difference for years to come. I am able to pursue my passion for advertising, media, business and education as I have now diversified my skillset; challenged by a new sector and will continously develop and have the ability to shape lives. When I completed my placement, the children wrote me the sweetest messages which were given to me by my Deputy Head and Mentor. This was the sweetest and most meaningful reward. I know I shaped lives for hundreds of children and becoming a qualified teacher has become my proudest achievement to date.
"'Every lesson shapes a life' continues to resonate well with both current and aspiring teachers and our new film builds on this," Chloe Saklow, deputy director for teaching, customer and brand at the Department for Education, said.
"There are thousands of brilliant teachers helping to shape the next generation – and we want to encourage more people to join this unique and dynamic profession by reflecting one dedicated and inspiring individual whose enjoyment of what he does is as clear as it is infectious."
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