School Blog
It Takes a Whole School to Train a Teacher
In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, highlights the importance of the summer before teacher training as a valuable time for preparation.
At John Taylor SCITT, we believe that the key to nurturing successful teachers lies not only in comprehensive training but also in providing a strong network of support that extends well beyond the initial training year. Our community of educators and mentors play a crucial role in ensuring that trainees grow in confidence and skill – we want our trainees to know that they have a team behind them at every step of their teaching journey.
We spoke to Katie, one of our accomplished alumni, about her experience at the SCITT and how the support she received has impacted her career. Katie’s reflections highlight the impact of mentorship and community within the JTSCITT and how this network continues to benefit her today.
Katie is one of our accomplished alumni, having trained with us from 2017 to 2018, specialising in Secondary History Education. After completing her NQT year in 2019, Katie’s leadership potential was quickly recognised, and she completed the SSAT Leadership Legacy project, a program designed for emerging leaders within their first five years of teaching.
Katie was then appointed Assistant Subject Lead in History and later, the role of Subject Lead for the History SCITT route. In addition to her curriculum-focused roles, Katie became a teaching coach, supporting the professional development of her colleagues. She was then appointed as a Head of Year in the lower school.
“My experience on the SCITT was an incredibly supportive [one].
The thing which stood out to me about the SCITT was the personal approach. My SCITT lead knew me by name from the first day as they personally interviewed me as did my subject lead. It felt welcoming and supportive.
‘It wasn’t about how much History I knew as I had proven this by gaining my degree. It was more about what will I be like as a teacher and what is my potential to be an effective teacher. And it is this potential I feel the SCITT supports all trainees in developing, and eventually allows them to be great practitioners.”
From the very first day, Katie felt valued not just for her academic background in History, but for her potential to become an excellent teacher.
Unlike many other ITT providers, where the focus might be solely on subject knowledge, Katie appreciated how the SCITT centred on the trainee’s potential to develop into a skilled teacher. Our emphasis is on helping trainees refine their classroom skills, teaching strategies, and interpersonal abilities – tools crucial for shaping effective educators.
“Having a network of trainees in my cohort has supported me in sharing resources, especially with those who also teach History. I have also been able to share my expertise with former trainees in my year group, in areas they are not familiar with.”
One of the lasting benefits of the SCITT experience for Katie has been the strong network of fellow trainees she met during her time with us. This network has evolved into a valuable resource for professional growth and collaboration.
The relationships built during the SCITT program have not only helped Katie navigate her teaching journey but have also allowed her to support others in the profession. By creating a space for resource sharing and ongoing collaboration, the SCITT fosters a spirit of continuous learning and professional development that extends far beyond the training year.
“In my role as a SCITT lead, the network the SCITT has provided has also helped me to support new trainees. Some of our History mentors are former SCITT trainees like myself. By having those established relationships with colleagues and schools it has helped to support new trainees even more effectively.”
Katie’s journey with the SCITT didn’t end when she completed her training. Today, she is a SCITT Lead, responsible for guiding new trainees on their path to becoming effective educators. In this role, she continues to benefit from the relationships she built during her time as a trainee.
The sense of community fostered at the SCITT has come full circle for Katie. Now in a leadership position, she draws on her own experiences and the network she built to mentor and support the next generation of teachers.
In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, highlights the importance of the summer before teacher training as a valuable time for preparation.
This blog welcomes our new trainees to the JTSCITT, sharing more about our approach, our personalised support and building a teaching career.
Nervous to start your teacher training with us? In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, shares more about your first week so you can start your teaching journey with us feeling prepared and confident.
In this blog, Mike Simmons, Director of JTSCITT, highlights the importance of the summer before teacher training as a valuable time for preparation.
