Samuel

How has your ECT experience been so far?

So far, I have loved my ECT experience. It has been amazing to be completely immersed in the classroom. Having my own class has been such a positive progression since the year before, where you can embed everything you have learned from observing teachers and their routines and expectations in your own classroom. Having that sole responsibility for your class as a primary school teacher means you can watch how the children progress from that starting point to end point, and that is probably what I have enjoyed the most so far. 

What have been the highlights of your ECT journey?

Because I am an ECT 1, we get observed every week and I have been receiving positive feedback about lessons. Being able to have those opportunities in the ECT years to observe those expert teachers has really helped build my own pedagogy and understanding of teaching.   

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

I would say to someone considering being an ECT at the Harris Federation that it is a great opportunity and something you should throw your all into because Harris offers so much. At Harris you are surrounded by expert teachers. You have a curriculum which is focused and there is a lot of support for you in learning to teach that curriculum. You might not feel like you were an expert in geography or science, but the way the curriculum is run means there is a lot of teaching points. There are things you can learn before the lesson, and it is very clear what the key objectives are. At Harris we are surrounded by other ECTs, lots of people have trained with Harris and they are still with Harris to this day, some of those in senior roles did the exact same training as me and I see that as an opportunity for myself to progress in the future.   

What is your favourite thing about working at Harris Primary Academy Shortlands?

My favourite thing about working at this academy is my class. Teaching my class every day, having a joke with them in the morning when they walk in, asking them how their weekend has been. Having that rapport with the children who you get to know over the course of the year is my favourite thing.