Trainee Teachers Get Words of Advice

A former Edge Hill lecturer, and now General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, returned to the University to talk to trainee teachers about what life will be like when they take their first steps in to the classroom.

Mary Bousted, from ATL, joined the students to talk about the current educational context and what the first few months will be like once they leave Edge Hill University to become tomorrow's teachers.

She said: "In 1997, Tony Blair stood on Downing Street and spoke of his promise to the education system. I think that although he has come in for a bit of criticism he has done a great deal for us.

"Over the past ten years there has been a great deal of change in the way we teach, in the schools where we teach and most pleasing the news that our children are getting better and better SAT's as well as GCSE results.

"We are going to see a major investment in our schools, around £8 billion will be spent on building and renovating our classrooms. That's an amazing amount of money and a far cry from the conditions in which I used to teach during the 1980s, when ants crawled over tables."

Edge Hill's former Head of Secondary Education was critical of the UK's ranking in terms of 16-year-olds not continuing on to further education, she said: "We are ranked 24th of all the 29 developed nations - which is a disgrace. I find this a scary prospect given that most people that leave education at 16 years-old with fewer than five GCSEs are those that are likely to be socially unstable, prone to relationship problems and stuck in temporary or unskilled jobs."

Mary was hopeful that once the trainees leave Edge Hill they would find jobs in the field they are looking, but offered some sound advice. "The first few months are going to be very lonely, but remember that everyone has been in that same situation. If you can get through the first year then the rest will be easy.

"I had a great time teaching at Edge Hill and I have loved coming back to see how much the campus has changed. You aren't thrown in at the deep end like I was, back then it was a sink or swim mentality. Use the great lecturers here while you can and good luck for the future."

Robert Hooson, Head of Secondary Education at Edge Hill said: "I was delighted to welcome Mary back and build upon our strategic partnership with the ATL. It was a pleasure to be able to invite Mary to speak to our trainees as they move into the profession and she offered them very important advice as they enter their induction year. The strategic partnership and Professional Development link between Edge Hill University and the ATL mean that our NQTs (Newly Qualified Teachers) will be very well supported once they start their teaching career".

The Faculty of Education is the largest provider of Secondary Initial Teacher Training in the country with a reputation for excellence. The Faculty draws upon the expertise of its own staff and from a network of partners within the educational community to support its teaching, learning and research.

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