Personal statement

Siikibam

Siikibam

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I’m applying for teacher training (save me from myself!) and need to write a personal statement. I’ve completed everything except that, references (I know who I’ll be using) and choices. Thing is I’m stuck on how to start! 😬

If you’re a teacher, please can you help me and tell me what skills you think are important. Also the downsides - I’m thinking paperwork, strict guidelines as to what the children should know, stressful particularly if there are sats coming up and ofsted reports...having to multitask because children won’t all be at the same level and learn in the same way.....

I’m having some school experience at my kids’ school after half term so that will be good. Of course not in their classes 😁

thank you in advance, I appreciate it more than you know!
 
Safeguarding is a really important one, also awareness of different learning styles (as originally propsed by Honey and Mumford).
You should probably mention your ability to teach citizenship skills, and how you will make your curriculum broadly applicable to the challenges of our ever changing contemporary society...
Hope that helps, I helped my daughter with this a while ago before she had a baby and deferred her teacher training place! She got 5 unconditional offers though so we must have got some of it right :)
Best of luck!
 
Are you applying for PGCE?
 
I don't know if it will help but I have used Reed website for helping clients write personal statements though theirs are for cv's I know the website also has a guide for university statements. Might be worth a look
 
Thank you everyone. Yes I’m applying for PGCE, hopefully the salaried route. I can’t afford to drop salary. But there are some that salaries routes that don’t offer pgce.

@PigglePuggle wow you definitely did something right! I’m about to do some more safeguarding training due to my role in church so that will be good. As for the rest, looks like I have more reading to do! 😬 how did your daughter get on?

@sport_billy i saw that website when browsing for pointers on personal statements. I’m also meant to be hearing from an experienced teacher from DfE who’ll also help me.
 
I was a special education teacher in the US for 8 years. I think talking about how you will adapt to different learning styles and different ability levels would be good.
 
Thank you Heather. I have already experienced that with my own children, particularly in terms of maths. I wonder, would that be worth mentioning that I teach my children some things?

Did you give it up teaching then?
 
Siikibam said:
Thank you Heather. I have already experienced that with my own children, particularly in terms of maths. I wonder, would that be worth mentioning that I teach my children some things?

Did you give it up teaching then?
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Yes, I taught up until I had my first child, and now I am a stay at home mom, my kids are 4 and 6. And teaching your own children definitely counts as experience and is worth mentioning.
 
Siikibam said:
I’m applying for teacher training (save me from myself!) and need to write a personal statement. I’ve completed everything except that, references (I know who I’ll be using) and choices. Thing is I’m stuck on how to start! 😬

If you’re a teacher, please can you help me and tell me what skills you think are important. Also the downsides - I’m thinking paperwork, strict guidelines as to what the children should know, stressful particularly if there are sats coming up and ofsted reports...having to multitask because children won’t all be at the same level and learn in the same way.....

I’m having some school experience at my kids’ school after half term so that will be good. Of course not in their classes 😁

thank you in advance, I appreciate it more than you know!
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I know this is a bit late and I am not a teacher but I did have to write a personal statement for my university and we had like this 'golden rule' where it was 80% why the subject, academics and interest in the subject (anything you read etc) and 20% about yourself. That is all the help I can give as I am not a teacher and have no knowledge/experience, but I would definitely put in there about the experience you are gaining as that always looks good. Good luck!
 
One word.... Academy, ruined everything with schools. Just a business. Sorry I'm a grumpy git. Hope all goes well lol👍
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
One word.... Academy, ruined everything with schools. Just a business. Sorry I'm a grumpy git. Hope all goes well lol👍
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I love your comments haha, they always make me laugh. Yeah, my old secondary school (most in the area) have turned into academies. All to do with marketisation, aristocracy and neoliberalism unfortunately :(
 
Ellie-May said:
I love your comments haha, they always make me laugh. Yeah, my old secondary school (most in the area) have turned into academies. All to do with marketisation, aristocracy and neoliberalism unfortunately :(
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Primary school are focusing on the bright kids, and the middle kids, and leaving the not so clever kids behind, because they say that they will never be high flyers and they get the best stats at end of year from boosting up the bright kids. It's terrible. I know alot of teachers, and the love has gone from them at work, its just. A business, if you try put passion in, you are shot down and must fall in line
 
Ellie-May said:
I love your comments haha, they always make me laugh. Yeah, my old secondary school (most in the area) have turned into academies. All to do with marketisation, aristocracy and neoliberalism unfortunately :(
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Meant parentocracy
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Primary school are focusing on the bright kids, and the middle kids, and leaving the not so clever kids behind, because they say that they will never be high flyers and they get the best stats at end of year from boosting up the bright kids. It's terrible
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Not so sure about primary school as it's been a while lol, but my neighbour has said that her kids are regularly tested and worry about the SATS exam or 11+ which baffles me because they are so young and shouldn't have to worry like that
 
Ellie-May said:
Not so sure about primary school as it's been a while lol, but my neighbour has said that her kids are regularly tested and worry about the SATS exam or 11+ which baffles me because they are so young and shouldn't have to worry like that
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Terrible, another thing is if a kid is naughty these days, he must have aspergers or have adhd.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
You can fit my vocab on the back of a stamp, I was the not so bright kid 😂
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I wouldn't say I am naturally clever, but I have always enjoyed school and had to work hard for what I got. I think the problem is now that education has become a competition which I understand to an extent as for certain jobs you need certain qualifications, but I disagree with people putting others day because they have not chosen the standard route
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
Terrible, another thing is if a kid is naughty these days, he must have aspergers or have adhd.
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Completely agree. Sometimes it is external factors e.g. home life, parenting etc. It can also just be the school environment, but I think schools have lost their touch with understanding and trying to help children
 
Ellie-May said:
I wouldn't say I am naturally clever, but I have always enjoyed school and had to work hard for what I got. I think the problem is now that education has become a competition which I understand to an extent as for certain jobs you need certain qualifications, but I disagree with people putting others day because they have not chosen the standard route
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I agree with education for certain jobs, but some of the best manual workers I know. Like plumbers, carpenters, builders, are all 50 to 60 year old men who learnt from hands on straight after school.
 
SkyPipDotBernie said:
I agree with education for certain jobs, but some of the best manual workers I know. Like plumbers, carpenters, builders, are all 50 to 60 year old men who learnt from hands on straight after school.
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It is rare to see many people like that nowadays who have been going for years. Plus, manual jobs pay really well
 
Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't want a surgeon, operating on me, who just recently googled a how to video 🤣
 
I work in a primary school and when we are recruiting both teachers, teaching assistants and all staff, the safeguarding question is always asked - “can you please explain the meaning of the word safeguarding in a school?”

Hope the following helps - an understanding of phonics, realisation that all children have a right to a safe environment away from bullying and racism, enthusiasm to offer extra curricular activity i.e. gardening or cooking club (good for outdoor learning and/or healthy eating) or sports club/activity. Also that each child’s efforts are appreciated and it is not just the brightest of pupils that make achievements in school - all pupils achieve individually. SEN - pupils with special educational needs, pupil premium pupils and diversity within schools.

Have a look prospectuses on school websites where the school will state their values and give general information.

Good luck and keep us posted how you get on.
 
Thank you so much for that @Goldie i will be sure to mention it. I actually have to do some safeguarding training connected with my role in church so that is good timing.
What else do you look for, and what would you say are the difficult things about teaching? I have to show I’m realistic about the workload etc.
 
Sorry not to reply sooner @Siikibam ... I was back to school today and wrote a few thoughts down to let you know.
I will post again tomorrow if that’s ok.
 
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