Advice for Future Trainees: My Year with WWLCSD
My advice to anyone starting their teaching journey is to stay organised. Try to keep on top of your workload and prioritise what really needs to be done. Make the most of the quieter weeks to get ahead, and remember to take time for yourself when you can.
The trainee year goes by so quickly. You will meet some amazing people, face challenges, and be pushed ou
t of your comfort zone. But through all of that, you will grow and become a better version of yourself.
With the WWLCSD, you are based in your home school from the very first INSET day. From the first week, you are in classrooms building up your experience. You start by observing experienced teachers, then move on to co-teaching, and eventually lead your own lessons. This phased approach helps to build your confidence and knowledge in a supportive way. Everything is introduced gradually with lots of guidance.
You will also complete a second placement for around six weeks in a different school. This is a great opportunity to experience a new setting and learn from a different group of staff and students. It helps you see what works well in different contexts and adds another layer to your training.
On top of this, one afternoon a week is dedicated to school-wide development. These sessions take place across the Catholic cluster of schools and offer extra training in key areas of teaching practice. It is a great way to connect with other trainees, share experiences, and keep learning new strategies.
You are supported throughout the whole year. Sarah H and Sarah C are always there to guide you, along with your subject mentor, professional mentor, university link, and all the teaching staff in your department and school. Twice a week, your mentor will observe your lessons and give you feedback. Some of these will be joint observations with other mentors, which is helpful as you get a range of perspectives. Your weekly mentor meetings are a chance to reflect on what is going well and where you can improve. These meetings help you stay on track and take ownership of your progress.
Alongside the school part of the course is the university element. You will have a university subject mentor who supports you with developing your subject knowledge based on the National Curriculum and exam board content. You will also complete assignments and take part in intensive practice weeks which focus on key areas like behaviour management, assessment and feedback, and classroom routines. These university sessions complement the school experience really well and help you build a strong foundation for your teaching career.
Being part of the WWLCSD has been a brilliant experience. It has been a full-on year with plenty of highs and a few challenges, but I have learned so much and have grown massively in confidence and knowledge. I feel really lucky to have secured a job at one of my placement schools for September.
Good luck to anyone thinking of applying. It will be one of the best decisions you make.
