Rapid Progression

Name: Liz Cooper

Position: Head of Geography

After leaving Sixth-form college I took a couple of years out and worked in a shop while I thought about what to do. I saved money and bought a motorbike before deciding to go to university. I completed a degree in geography and environmental management at the University of the West of England, followed by a PGCE in 2003.

Teaching was something I thought I’d like to do, so during my degree I volunteered at a local school which made me realise its quite challenging. But it didn’t put me off. You get the feeling that you want to try to help the children in some way.

My NQT year is going really well. This is a challenging school in a challenging area, but I’ve settled in well. There’s a nice staff community. It is also a good teacher training school, and there’s lots of support for NQT’s. There are six of us, and we help each other. The NQT’s have all been given tutor groups, which is a great way to get to know the kids.

The main challenge has to be pupils behaviour. You can know your subject well, but at the end of the day you’ve got to have them under control so that you can put your subject across.

That’s the main thing you have to try to prepare yourself for. You’ve got to be able to go into a classroom and be confident and consistent. You’ve got to have your same standards set over and over again. You have to know what you want, and stick to it.

The schools I was sent for my teaching practice were also quite challenging so I knew what was expected of me. But its so different when your teaching rather than just being part of somebody else’s class.

The high points this year have to be when you realise you’re getting through to the children, or when you realise that you are valued by them. You hear little comments in the corridor. Around here, the children like to say “you’re safe” – that’s a real compliment at our school.

Low points are those days when nothing seems to go right – and its usually because of behaviour problems. It can really make or break your day.

Sometimes when you have a bad day you really start questioning yourself: is this really for me? But you get back into it. And even though the students might not be that great to you in the classroom, they do value you. I think that makes it worthwhile.

An article taken from “New Face” TES 6 June 2003

After a challenging first year, Liz was made Geography Co-ordinator due to unexpected circumstances. Towards the end of the second year, the post of Head of Geography was advertised; she applied and was promoted to the position.

During her time at HECC, Liz has faced the everyday highs and lows of an inner-city secondary school teacher. Recently though, the highs peaked with a visit to there link school in St Lucia. During this time, Liz and colleagues were given the opportunity to observe the routines and teaching practices of a culturally different school, as well as experiencing the Caribbean way of life.

In the future, she will continue progressing at HECC with the intention of possibly trying her hand at the Head of Year route. She will, of course, also keep the link with St Lucia alive and hope to visit again (in the near future) with students from HECC.