Tag Archives: nqt

How can we give kids over a hundred hours of extra teaching time each year for free?

Katie Ashford is an English teacher in a secondary school in the Midlands. These are her individual views. Lessons begin at ten past the hour. Or that’s when the bell goes, at least. By the time the kids have arrived from their last lesson, have caught up with their friends and faffed about with their…

Why do teachers burn out?

Katie Ashford is an English teacher in a secondary school in the Midlands. These are her individual views. Hello everyone. My name is Katie Ashford and I am a workaholic. Giving up working insanely hard was more of a challenge than giving up smoking. The threat of yellow teeth, empty pockets, lung cancer and premature…

Misconceptions of a new teacher – inspiring kids is easy

As the new school year approaches and over 30,000 new teachers begin their career in the classroom, Katie Ashford gives us the second part in her three part series. Katie is an English teacher in a secondary school in London. These are her individual views. At the end of summer institute, the prospect of entering…

Misconceptions of a new teacher – staying up until midnight makes you a better teacher

  As the new school year approaches and over 30,000 new teachers begin their career in the classroom, Katie Ashford gives us the first part in her three part series. Katie is an English teacher in a secondary school in London. These are her individual views. Every teacher knows that things will never be as…

What did I learn on Teach First?

Katie Ashford is an English teacher in a secondary school in London. These are her individual views. Teach First: the teacher training equivalent of a bungee jump; an exhilarating, frightening, all-or-nothing experience that is not for the faint hearted. The six week training period, known as ‘Summer Institute’ is like standing on the edge of…

Why are you just a teacher?

This blog post comes from our anonymous blogger working in a secondary school. The other day one of my Year 8 students said something disconcerting: ‘If you’re so smart why didn’t you become a lawyer or a doctor? Why are you just a teacher?’ This ‘just’ has haunted me for weeks. For that little just…