Daniel Franklin

A Day in my Life

My typical day includes starting off the day with my form group and ensuring they are settled but also building strong connections with the pupils to ensure they are prepared for the school day. Each day I may teach three to five lessons, with a range of different year groups from Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) cohorts all the way to teaching sixth form groups. Needless to say, copious amounts of dad jokes and subsequent groans from pupils are an absolute staple in the profession.

My Journey to Teaching

During the PGDE I applied for multiple schools within the West Midlands. There are a large range of schools from private or public, religious or even academies. It is important to realise that interviews are a two-way process, therefore, it required multiple interviews to find a school that was a correct fit for me.

My Birmingham Experience

The course helped prepared me in both hard and soft skills for the career. The academic tutor lead sessions allowed for greater study of the pedagogical aspects of education, with thoroughly marked assignments to help assist with academic writing. Working in two secondary schools, with a mentor within the faculty, made progressing even smoother due to the frequent lesson observations and gradual setting of targets. This allowed a seamless transition from a trainee teacher to an Early Career Teacher (ECT.)

One of my favourite parts was meeting like-minded peers who are passionate about their subjects, and developing together. Not only this, but it is really lovely to realise how much you have progressed throughout the year which makes it incredibly fulfilling.

My Achievements

As I had half the credits from the PGDE, going on to complete my Masters in Teaching Studies was fulfilling. I got to work with my school to professionally develop my ability to conduct investigations to support literacy among pupils with autism. Additionally, being entrusted with Key Stage 5 (Year 12 and 13) - the holy grail of teaching - is an incredible experience as I get to share my love for linguistics and delve deeper into the nuances of language.

Advice for Students

When you are the teacher of a classroom, you are their teacher not an imposter. It is important to realise that while it is natural to feel anxious and worried about your performance or behaviour, you are in control.