"Reinforced my love of teaching"

Music has played a great part in my life since I was very young and it was whilst I was taking my own GCSEs that I decided I wanted to combine my love of the subject with helping others to enjoy it. After two years of studying towards AS and A–levels, I started a Degree in Music at the University of East Anglia where I studied for three years and graduated in the summer of 2005.

After deciding that I wanted to stay within the Norfolk area, I applied for a place on the SCITT programme and was accepted into the music department. I chose this programme over other routes into teaching, such as the GTP or the university based PGCE course, because I felt it offered the most support for me.

After three years in university based education, I decided that I wished to have a more vocational training course throughout my first year of teaching. The SCITT course combines the most favourable elements of the other courses with some extra ideas.

The support is apparent from the start, with no less than five people assigned to making sure you can ease into the profession as comfortably as possible right from the start of the programme, not to mention the other members of staff that, once on your placement, offer encouragement and support as and when you need it.

It also combines the vocational aspect of the GTP as you start your placement at the very beginning of term with all of the regular staff. This offers the advantages of getting to know the teaching and support teams from the outset and also, you are in post when the pupils start the school year. This allows you to establish yourself as a regular member of staff from day one.

I felt immediately comfortable and secure in this school; there was a clear support structure for my subject development, my professional development and any other, more pastoral, needs that arose. I think that my time at Aylsham has reinforced my love of teaching and certainly stood me in good stead for the rest of my training and career.