Stephanie Rukin- Key Stage 5 Leader in Maths

What influenced your decision to train at Hillview?

I had really enjoyed my time as a student at Hillview and had found all of the teachers very supportive so going into teacher training I knew that I would get the benefits of the same supportive structure. Whilst at university I undertook a week’s work experience at Hillview as part of a module on Teaching and Learning. During this week, I was able to learn about the structure of the teacher training program and have a go at teaching myself. I found the experience really enjoyable so decided to train at Hillview.

What was your experience of training to teach at Hillview?

The professional tutor was incredibly knowledgeable and was able to give me all of the support and guidance that I needed. Regular training sessions delivered by the staff gave a real insight into the world of teaching from those who had the most experience. I was able to develop my teaching very quickly and was soon teaching a full timetable with confidence.

What were the benefits of in-school training?

Nothing really prepares you for teaching like being in the classroom. Having the time to interact with the students allowed me to try out and test different strategies and very quickly analyse what works and what doesn’t (something which would be much more difficult to do in a university setting). I feel that in-school training, although a little challenging at the beginning, prepares you much more effectively for teaching.

How has your career progressed since you qualified?

Since qualifying I have taken on a variety of roles, including becoming the Duke of Edinburgh coordinator, organising and running the program for eighty students every year. I have also helped to organise and take part in a trip to Uganda in partnership with a charity that we work with. I have also taken on the role of Key Stage 5 Lead in Maths. This means that I am responsible for the running of both the Core Maths qualifications and A Level Maths. This has been a great opportunity for me and has allowed me to develop some people-management skills which will allow me to progress further in the future.