Issue 1 - New Teacher Times - Magazine - Page 1
Does NQT Stand
for 'Not Quite
There'?
In this blog, Kevin, a secondary
NQT in Buckinghamshire talks us
through his first half-term's ups
and downs.
One of the most pleasant things about
this year so far is that I have felt
supported rather than judged. As a
trainee at my previous school, I felt
constantly judged, criticised and
isolated – whereas I have really been
embraced and supported in my new
school. I seem to have a queue of
people wanting to help me – my
mentor, my designated school “buddy”,
my department, the NQT lead…the list
goes on.
Last year, at every turn I was reminded
that I was a trainee but this year I feel
like I am treated as a teacher – a new
teacher perhaps but a teacher
nonetheless – and being treated as an
equal by my co-workers has helped
build up the self-belief which had been
damaged last year.
It hasn’t been easy of course. Often, I
have not been looking any further than
the next day or the next lesson – bailing
madly to stop the boat from sinking –
and that has been tough. But as the
weeks have progressed I have gradually
found my feet.
Names helped a lot. At first, I knew the
names of none of the students and that
undermined my confidence and – in my
mind anyway – my authority. Similarly,
simply understanding exactly how the
school sanction system worked helped.
Even though I rarely had to use the
serious end of it the knowledge felt like
a safety net, something which I could
use and that helped me feel in control
again.
As the weeks have gone by I have learnt
more about my classes, their abilities,
their personalities, how they work,
what they like and I have been able to
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