Trainee Teacher of Mathematics

I’ve always loved learning, and I’ve always enjoyed helping other people realise how exciting it is to understand something new. Over time, I became really focused on how we learn and how we make sense of things — especially in maths. I love taking someone from “I have no idea what’s going on” to “I get this. I can do maths now.” 

I’m Graham Phillips, and I’m a trainee teacher of mathematics. I wanted to get into teaching because I want every student to have the chance to pass their maths GCSE and move on to whatever ambitions they have for the future. 

To qualify for this role, you need three years of a degree so you can apply, and then a year of training to complete your qualified teacher status. QTS is what makes you legally able to teach independently in the UK. I’m doing the one year intensive PGCE route, which combines classroom practice with learning the theory behind how we learn effectively. 

My working schedule usually starts around 8:30am and finishes around 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, but there are often extra training sessions or syllabus development meetings that run until about 4:30pm. When you include lesson planning, studying, and preparation, I’d say I work between 50 and 60 hours a week. Fridays are often spent working from home, while the rest of the week I’m in different classrooms teaching or observing. 

My main duties include planning lessons — deciding exactly what I want students to learn and how I’m going to help them get there — and then delivering those lessons in a way that keeps everyone focused and engaged. A big part of the job is making sure every student leaves the lesson feeling like they understand what we’ve covered. 

There’s also an academic side to teaching. We’re expected to stay up to date with research on how people learn, and to apply that research in the classroom so our teaching keeps improving. It’s incredibly rewarding work, but it’s important to keep a balance between helping students and looking after your own time and wellbeing.