Atarah

How do you feel your ECT experience has been so far?

My ECT experience has been really good. I’ve particularly enjoyed getting to know other ECTs as in my previous school, I was one of only two people so having a community of other ECTs that I am able to talk to and bounce ideas off has been really positive. That has been something I have enjoyed and gained a lot from.  

Could you tell me a highlight of your ECT journey and what your proudest moment has been?

A highlight is when senior leadership were looking into how literacy is used in lessons and a member of SLT came into my classroom, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to try and implement what I had learnt, and I got really positive feedback so that was a highlight for me to see how doing something in departmental time and then applying it to my classroom could be so successful. 

What would you say to someone considering an ECT role at the Harris Federation?

If you are considering an ECT role here I would definitely recommend it. There is so much support here, so many experts within their specialisms, and so many consultants for different subjects. This is my first year teaching history and geography but each week we have our consultancy meetings where they breakdown the lessons and answer any questions we may have. These meetings give me the confidence to walk into the lesson and support the students in the best way that I can.  

What is your favourite thing about working at Harris Lowe Academy Willesden?

My favourite things so far have been my colleagues and the level of support from the senior leadership team who come up with good ideas, and listen to us as staff, before implementing them in a way that we can not only take into our classroom but use around the school. There is opportunity for feedback, we do weekly shoutouts, and there's a level of recognition for staff that the hard work you do doesn’t go unnoticed and there is so much support from the senior leadership team in that respect as well.  

What do you love about being a teacher at Harris Lowe Academy Willesden?

One thing that I absolutely love about my job is seeing the progress of the students over a small period of time. I am new so a lot of the students didn’t know me last year but I can really see the rapport that we are building throughout the year, and the students often stop by after school to say hello or have a chat, and that really tells me that what I am doing in the classroom and the time I spend with them is valuable and impactful to them.