What our trainees say
We take enormous pride in the significant number of trainees we have supported and guided to become great teachers. Many of these have leadership roles in primary and secondary schools today.
Here's a few of our past trainee's thoughts on what motivated them to train to teach, why they chose EAST SCITT and advice they would give to anyone considering a career in teaching.
Some of our secondary trainee teachers (ID 1308)
-
Rhiannon BarborBiology
Rhiannon Barbor
What motivated you to train to teach?
The variety of each day.
Using prior teaching experience and applying the theory from a PGCE to it.
Teaching a subject you enjoy and have expertise in.
Always learning!
What made you select EAST SCITT as your provider?
The network of support provided by the SCITT, mentors, tutors and the EAST SCITT Co-ordinator.
 Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teaching?
Got for it!
Make sure you have a diary.
Don't compare to others, everyone has their own style, but make sure you learn from others!
-
Nathanael AdamsChemistry
Nathanael Adams
What motivated you to train to teach?
Hopefully ignite some love of learning.
Prepare students for a life not in education and hopefully give them skills to manage well in life.
What made you select EAST SCITT as your provider?
It is local and I'd heard from family and friends positive things.
I chose EAST because it is centered on teachers that are in teaching right now.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teaching?
Go for it! Go into schools to have a look at what teaching is currently like.
-
Josh LeechGeography
Josh Leech
What motivated you to train to teach?I wanted to be a teacher from a young age and share with students my passion for and knowledge of Geography.What made you select EAST SCITT as your providerI'd heard about EAST SCITT as a student at Farlingaye High School. After weighing up my teaching options at the end of university, this seemed like the best programme - lots of hands-on experience, on the job and surrounded by experts.Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teachingGo for it! It will be a challenging but amazing journey! -
Jack RennisonHistory
Jack Rennison
What motivated you to train to teach?
I have worked in schools since graduating, including teaching English in China, and feel that the next step in my career is to complete my PGCE. I love history and wanted a fast-paced, varied work place where I could engage with my subject. Working with children is highly rewarding and I couldn't stand working in an office.
What made you select EAST SCITT as your provider?
I have found the EAST SCITT team warm, supportive and interested in my personal journey since interview. The quality of training is excellent and the number of schools associated with EAST SCITT was also a draw as my travel arrangements mean I am geographically limited.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teaching
Got for it! Get some experience in schools, even lesson observation for a few days will help; knowing the system is a good place to start. Every day is different and you need to embrace and relish the challenge!
-
Jen PullenMaths
Jen Pullen
What motivated you to train to teach?
I've always had a passion for maths, which was heavily influenced by two female maths teachers in my education. I now want to inspire further generations to fall in love with maths.
 What made you select EAST SCITT as your provider?
I've previously worked with Farlingaye's TSST ( Teacher Subject Specialism Training) and enjoyed the variety of professionals available, all with current teaching knowledge.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teaching?
Volunteer at a school for a day or a week and if it is the right choice for you, you will know it. The atmosphere and community is something else.
-
Elizabeth WoodMFL
Elizabeth Wood
What motivated you to train to teach?
I wanted to fulfil myself vocationally, as I've always been a passionate, unqualified, freelance tutor/teacher/trainer.
What made you select EAST SCITT as your provider?
I like that it is hands-on training and that you get stuck right in. It is taught by working teachers who are very supportive and passionate about the job. EAST SCITT also offers PGCE which is fantastic.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teaching?
Try not to listen to any negativity from others. Teachers are very important and do the job for the love of it.
-
Emily KernohanDesign & Technology
Emily Kernohan
What motivated you to train to teach?
I really wanted to be a positive influence on future generations and to show them the importance and excitement of creativity within school and beyond.
Why did you choose to train with EAST SCITT?
I applied to a few teacher training providers, but when I met the course leaders for EAST SCITT, I felt an immediate sense of warmth and welcoming that I knew this course would be for me. The course leaders were interested in me as a person and I felt that they would meet my individual needs.
What was the most beneficial part of your training?
I feel that the most beneficial part of my training was having a short burst of concentrated training at the start of each term, followed by as much school situated experience as possible. The fact that the hours built up over time was beneficial for my confidence as well, and allowed me to get used to the workload in a manageable way.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about going into teaching?
Absolutely go for it. I initially found it quite daunting standing up in front of students and was worried that I didn’t know enough to be able to teach. But every student I’ve taught has their own personality, and the teams I’ve had around me so far have been an amazing support. I feel very fortunate to be able to go to a job each day that I love, and that has so much variety and laughter.
-
Jacob WrightMFL
Jacob Wright
What motivated you to train to teach?
Since secondary school I have always had a passion for languages which led to me completing a Modern Languages degree at university. As part of my degree, I completed a year abroad where is spent 10 months in Spain and 2 months in French. During my time in Spain, I was a language assistant in a primary and secondary school in the region of Murcia. This is where I found my passion for teaching by sharing my cultural/linguistical knowledge with others. This experience confirmed that becoming a teacher was the career path that I wanted to pursue.
Why did you choose to train with EAST SCITT?
From being a language assistant during my year abroad, this confirmed that I wanted to be learning within a classroom setting rather than being based in a university. As EAST SCITT follows a school-led model, it allowed me to gain classroom experience within schools in my local community. Furthermore, I was able to study and gain a PGCE qualification alongside my placement in two different schools in Suffolk. For me, the balance between teaching and studying was ideal because we spent four days in a placement school and one day concentrating on the theory of teaching. I was then able to put this into practise at my placement school and use the theory that I had learnt for the PGCE assignments.
What was the most beneficial part of your training?
The most beneficial part of my training was learning the theory behind teaching and then having the opportunity to put this into practise straight away at my placement school. This meant that the theory I was applying in my teaching was fresh in my mind and then went on to form part of my teaching routine.
As a I have previously mentioned, being in placement four days a week allowed me to fully immerse myself in all parts of the school. This allowed for a smooth transition from a trainee teacher to an ECT teacher as I was already familiar with most aspects of the school day, for example, what is expected in tutor time in the mornings.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about going into teaching?
Teaching can be challenging at times, but it is a very rewarding profession. As a teacher you are sharing your knowledge and passion for your subject with the students and enabling them to achieve the best of their ability. Each day is different, and that what makes it exciting. If you are passionate about working with young people and want to help them expand their knowledge, teaching is the perfect career path.
Any other comments?
The full team at EAST SCITT are incredibly supportive with all aspects of teacher training, whether that be with assignments or any other aspects of the course.
If you are thinking of training to teach, I would highly recommend EAST SCITT as they fully prepare for the classroom as an ECT teacher.
-
Bea TrottReligious Education
Bea Trott
What motivated you to train to teach?
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all” - Aristotle.
I strongly believe that this quote summarises why I wanted to become a teacher, teaching to me is not about quantitative results but expanding students' belief in themselves and tolerance of others. In my opinion, there is no subject that does this greater than RE. Not only does it hold so much information about society and fundamentally humanity, but it teaches people to be reflective and compassionate. Due to the national apathy around the subject, this sometimes gets lost or forgotten, every day I make it my mission to change this attitude.
Why did you choose to train with EAST SCITT?
I chose to train with EAST SCITT for a variety of reasons. But the main reason was that it was a programme run by current serving practitioners. This was essential as they understood the contemporary pressures in the classroom and challenging climate that education is currently facing. This meant that they could relate to the trainees and offer practical solutions and situations.
What was the most beneficial part of your training?
One of the most beneficial part of my training was the specific subject knowledge focus. I found this helpful to practically implement the pedagogy we had learnt into subject specific focus. However, I also found these days deeply inspiring. Getting to work with and observe a like-minded practitioner was a real privilege.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about going into teaching?
There is no job quite like teaching, it is both hugely challenging but rewarding at the same time. Getting to work with creative, curious, and sometimes challenging young people is a real privilege. My biggest piece of advice would be to get to know your students for who they are, invest time and care into them. For some students you may be the difference, every student deserves a champion so become the champion they deserve.
Any other comments?
The EAST SCITT programme is a brilliantly informed programme run by teachers for teachers. But the real aspect that separates EAST SCITT is the personable nature of the trainers and the pastoral care that they offer. The team invests so much time and support into each trainee, caring equally about course progress and emotional wellbeing. I cannot thank EAST SCITT enough for the foundation they gave me going into a challenging yet rewarding profession.
-
Richard LarkinMaths
Richard Larkin
What motivated you to train to teach?
I want more children to feel more positive and confident about maths.
Why did you choose to train with EAST SCITT?
EAST SCITT had an excellent and growing reputation. My experience was tailored to my needs and I was given more personal attention than I think other courses could offer.
What was the most beneficial part of your training?
Experiencing a range of environments and people. The broad number of voices teaching us during training and the range of school experiences has set me up for the school I work in now.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about going into teaching?
Be prepared to listen to advice and adapt, be ready to need to bounce back from difficulties and remember that the positives will outweigh the negatives overall.
Primary Trainees (ID 1314)
-
Charlotte Du ToitPrimary
Charlotte Du Toit
What motivated you to train to teach Â
Having worked in a school previously, I wanted to do more, to take ownership of teaching and learning. I wanted to guide children in igniting a love of learning and building confidence in themselves as learners. Â
Why did you select EAST SCITTT as your provider Â
They were very supportive over the telephone. The approach to a more balanced workload, especially training alongside family commitments. Â
Do you have any advice for people thinking about getting into teaching Â
Grasp every opportunity, the rewards when children succeed are priceless. Â
-
Katy GarnettPrimary
Katy Garnett
Katy is currently a Year 4 classroom teacher
What motivated you to train to teach?
I trained to teach because I want to make a positive and meaningful impact on children’s lives. Their curiosity and enthusiasm make the job rewarding. Helping them grow, gain confidence and develop a love for learning is what motivates me. It’s fulfilling to support them in reaching their potential.
Why did you choose to train with EAST SCITT?
I chose to train with EAST SCITT because I wanted to learn on the job, gaining valuable hands-on experience while also receiving thorough and useful theory-based training. EAST SCITT also offers a PGCE qualification which I was keen to gain. The supportive and personal environment made the experience so positive - the EAST SCITT team was always approachable and I built great, ongoing relationships throughout the year with staff and other members of the cohort. Training in Suffolk also helped me secure a local job which was exactly what I hoped for.
What was the most beneficial part of your training?
The most beneficial part of my training was the hands-on, real-life classroom experience, supported by excellent mentoring. The high-quality training delivered throughout the year ensured I was prepared for my first teaching job, giving me the confidence and skills to manage my own class. The support network at EAST SCITT was also brilliant - everyone is so lovely and approachable if you have any questions or need help with anything.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about going into teaching?
My advice to anyone considering teaching is to go for it! Every day is filled with so much variety - no two days are ever the same. The joy and positivity children bring always put a smile on my face and it’s incredibly fulfilling to see the progress they make, both personally and academically. The sense of reward when they succeed is truly invaluable. While teaching is challenging and there’s always something new to learn, I’m finding that things get easier with more experience. The hard work is absolutely worth it for the impact you make.
Any other comments?
Thank you so much for making my start to teaching so positive!
A few of our previous trainee's comments
"Couldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the support of everyone at EAST SCITT"."The passion & enthusiasm across the teaching staff is palpable"
"Very interesting & useful to learn the different concepts involved in the Teaching & Learning of phonics and how the different schemes may vary in their teaching methods".
"Lots of new information but really well delivered. Lots of examples we could relate to. Very useful handouts to keep"" I just wanted to say thanks for all the help and support you have given this past year, and for always being a friendly face at training!"