Trainee Teacher of Humanities

Working so closely with young people means there are so many moments where you feel appreciated. Children wear their hearts on their sleeves, and that appreciation comes through in the daily interactions we have. It’s those breaktime or lunchtime moments when a student seeks you out to share something happening in their life or to tell you how they’re getting on. The relationships we build and the support we provide along a child’s educational journey — being part of their growth — that’s the best part of the job. 

I’m Simon, and I’m a secondary teacher at Cliff Park Ormiston Academy. I teach History, English, PSHE and RE. To do this role, you typically need GCSEs, A levels, a BA degree and a PGCE qualification. My own experience includes working with pupils who had been permanently excluded from mainstream education. That gave me the chance to work with especially vulnerable young people from across the county, supporting them in a very holistic way and helping some of the more challenging pupils who needed the kind of educational support they’d lost after leaving mainstream school. 

My working hours are usually from 7am to about 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, but I also work evenings and weekends when needed — especially towards the end of a half term when I’m preparing resources. My own journey through school was challenging. I was academic, but I often felt misunderstood or unsupported by the adults around me. I got into teaching because I wanted to be a champion for young people who go through similar experiences. 

My advice to anyone interested in this kind of role is to get some experience in a school if you can. There are so many fantastic opportunities in education and so many different roles you can grow into. Experiencing it firsthand will absolutely help shape your decisions for the future.