Louise Stemp

Profile

Biography

I have been a Secondary science teacher for 20 years and have a passion for developing Teaching & Learning. As well as teaching science, I am also the Induction Tutor, and my role involves supporting trainees through a variety of different training programmes, ranging from Undergraduate to School Centred Initial Teacher Training. I also look after the progress of the Early Careers Teachers at my school. I support them throughout their two-year Induction programme alongside providing support and guidance for their mentors.

I am also part of the whole school coaching team and regularly observe other colleagues as part of a coaching cycle. I really enjoy observing my colleagues teach as I always pick up new ideas that I can put into practice to support my own teaching and professional development.

Why were you interested in the role?

I love being able to support the next generation of teachers and the Lead Mentor position was the perfect opportunity to extend and develop my in-school role. I feel like I can pass on my own experience to guide and support new teachers and help them to develop in their teaching career.

What inspired you to do the role with Edge Hill University?

As an Edge Hill PGCE Alumni, this was the perfect opportunity to give back to the University that helped me at the start of my teaching career. I have supported Edge Hill trainees for many years and with Edge Hill being well known for the quality of teaching training education it provides.

It also provided me with the perfect link between supporting ITE students and the transition to the ECT induction programme.

What are the top 3 skills your role is supporting you to develop?

• Teaching and learning – finding out about the research and studies around teaching and learning and how this can be used to support pupil progress in the classroom. I am really interested in supporting teachers to become excellent classroom practitioners. The research aspect is also helping me to develop my own classroom practice.
• Different viewpoints – I have lots of experience of mentoring in a school-based setting, but this role is helping me to understand the ITE courses from the student’s perspective. I am now able to see the full network of support around each trainee and how each person’s role works together to enable the students to become successful teachers.
• Personal professional development – I have been given the opportunity to develop myself through training opportunities provided in the role. It has given me the freedom and time to explore different aspects of mentoring and how I can then use these skills in practice to support any trainees.

What are you most enjoying about your role, and what are the challenges (if any), and how have you overcome these?

Edge Hill is a completely different working environment to working in a school. It is still challenging but in a different way! I am using the support from the experienced Lead Mentors to help me develop my role. I have found that communication is key and I only need to ask and someone will be able to help me.

What’s the best thing about Edge Hill University to you?

Edge Hill University is a stunning campus and the facilities here are fantastic. The staff have all been extremely welcoming and have helped me to settle into my role easily.

How have/will your role support your career progression?

I have a real passion for developing teaching, particularly supporting new teachers throughout the first few years of their career. This is a role I would like to develop further by moving into working in Initial Teacher Training in the future.

What advice would you give to someone considering this role at Edge Hill University?

Apply for it! This role is an amazing opportunity to give back to the teaching profession and contribute to the development of the next generation of teachers. I am using my experience as a teacher and mentor to support ITE development. IT gives you a brilliant insight to how teaching is developing and moving forward.

How has Edge Hill supported you during your role?

I have been warmly welcomed into the Lead Mentor role and have had so much from support from the Edge Hill staff and the other Lead Mentors. Everything has been planned out and organised well in advance, so I am able to plan my workload around both my teaching and Lead Mentor roles.

What does your role bring to student experience? Outline your input with students and the benefits this brings to students.

The Lead Mentor role perfectly bridge the training in university with the students experience on placement. The students can have the support from an experienced classroom-based teacher who also has the knowledge of their course. The role gives me the time to spend with the students on a 1:1 basis and focus on a particular aspect of their teaching.