If you're thinking about starting a rewarding career in teaching, choosing a route and finding a training course that fits your needs may feel like a daunting process.

To help you understand your options, we've spoken to a trainee teacher to discover what it's like to gain qualified teacher status (QTS) through school-based teacher training.

A big thank you to Shalom Precious-Egere for sharing their experience of teacher training so far.

Can you tell us a little about your teacher training course?

I'm currently undertaking a full-time post-graduate certificate in education (PGCE) with qualified teacher status (QTS) course with Portsmouth Primary SCITT.

The course is a combination of around 60% school-based placements and 40% centre-based training. I currently teach year 3 (ages 7 - 8), and this is where I had my autumn and summer term placements. My spring term placement was in the early years foundation stage (EYFS) to year R (age 5).

What does a typical week as a trainee teacher look like?

A typical week varies depending on whether it's during school-based placements or centre-based training. During school-based placements, we spend Monday to Friday at our local placement school. Here, we work closely with our mentor to learn essential classroom management strategies, observe teachers across different age groups and subjects, and gradually take on teaching responsibilities in our own classrooms. We also allocate time for personal and year group planning, preparation, and assessment (PPA), crucial for developing our teaching skills. Completing assignments and paperwork is integral as they shape our understanding and approach to teaching. 

When on centre-based training, we have in depth subject training sessions and workshops from diverse trainers and experts. We also have fun and enjoy being together.​

What made you choose to pursue a career in teaching?

I've always had a passion for working with young people, driven by my desire to create meaningful change in society. I believe that this change starts with nurturing young people in the right direction—academically, socially, and holistically.

In the past, I have worked with children outside the classroom and volunteered in various settings, including STEM hubs. These experiences fuelled my passion, but I knew that to truly grow and make a lasting impact, I needed thorough training and certification.

I was very fortunate to find Portsmouth Primary SCITT when I did. They recognised my passion, offered me a place on their course, and supported my journey every step of the way. Now, just a few days away from becoming a qualified teacher, I am excited and ready to make a difference in the lives of my future students.

What have been the highlights and challenges of your training so far?

My major highlight was completing my spring term placement in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Initially, I was petrified, having never worked with that age group before, and I wondered how I would survive nine weeks with the little ones. However, I did it and absolutely enjoyed the experience.

I embraced this challenge as another learning opportunity and am grateful for it every day. I feel this experience has made me a well-rounded teacher, capable of fitting into EYFS, KS1, or KS2. If there is a higher calling for upper key stages, I am confident that I will excel.

Each phase of this training brought new opportunities for me to challenge myself, unlearn, relearn, and learn anew, which I believe is invaluable in my practice as a teacher.

What advice would you give to someone considering training to teach?

Go for it! Don't overthink the process—you'll receive exceptional support throughout your training journey. Every effort, resource, and moment you invest will be worthwhile. You can do it!

Find your perfect route into teaching

If Shalom's story has inspired you to kickstart a career in teaching, head to our training page to learn more about the different routes into teaching and the training providers offering courses in Portsmouth.

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