In the final session, it was important to spend time reflecting on our learning journeys. We used a ‘Careers critical timeline’ (included in the Master files) to stimulate these reflections and discussions. Identifying how our own social capital had grown through the activities that we had taken part in so far, provided the trainee teachers with the purpose and motivation to express an interest in the additional ‘teacher encounters’ initiative which was launched during this final session.
A ‘circle time’ activity saw each of the trainee teachers exploring how they wanted to continue to make their individual, but powerful contributions to careers education and guidance, social mobility and the lives of young people. These was reflected in commitments that they made to themselves on postcards to conclude the programme. We will send these out to the now, early career teachers, in the middle of this academic year.
‘Each session has also been designed to inform us on careers education in schools and it has inspired us all to think about what impact we will have on young people and their future careers.’
‘Actionable ideas, well paced throughout the course, interesting and engaging content. Great guest speakers and the Mazak tour was eye opening and enriching.’
Additional activities
Placement activities – See ‘Placement provision worksheet’
The trainee teachers were asked to ‘notice’ aspects of careers education during placement 1 (Oct – Dec). At a stage where they are new to the profession and developing their craft, we did not think it was appropriate to task them with seeking out the careers lead or the school’s careers strategy and provision. However, they were to make a note of careers if they came across it.
They compared their observations with each other and with the information provided by the careers lead during the third session in university. The trainee teachers were then tasked to be a little more proactive during their second, longer placement (Jan – Jun), finding out who the careers lead was, what the school’s strategy was, and to get involved wherever possible in careers-related activities.
‘I attended a careers fair and helped students talk to universities. I made a display in my classroom for those who could not attend.’
‘I went on a school trip to the National Space Centre and had discussions around careers in STEM. This gave me more practise speaking with students and staff about careers.’
Teacher Encounter initiative
The final, optional learning experience that the trainee teachers were offered was the opportunity to be excused from one day on placement to take part in a ‘Teacher encounter’. This initiative is described within the UW Source magazine which is included in the Master files link here. See pages 44-55. You can see how we introduced this to the trainee teachers during the fourth and final session, slides 48-50.