Meet Clare and read all about her experiences of working as a Teaching Assistant.
Please can you describe your journey into working in education?
As a child I always thought I would become a teacher but, gradually, I deviated from that path, I ended up studying graphic design at university and embarked on a career in the creative industry. I loved my work but not necessarily the commercial world I was in. I was constantly thinking of ways I might be able to 'give something back'. Once I became a parent myself, this became more important to me. The idea of greater flexibility also appealed. I decided to become a teaching assistant with a view to retraining to become a teacher. I had the necessary qualifications and quickly found a role in my local school.
What are the key things you love most about your job?
Working as a TA was one of the best jobs I have ever had! I worked in years 5 and 6 and I absolutely loved working with the young people, they were so interesting and full of ideas. The job also opened my eyes to the community around me, and I learned that I'd been living in a comfortable, middle class bubble and that there were lots of families much less fortunate than me. I felt proud that I could make a difference to those children and their future prospects and, with personal interests in art and sport, I gained enormous satisfaction from bringing my experience to the classroom and the sports hall for children who may achieve success away from the core academic subjects.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to work in a similar role?
Be clear about your motives. Working as a TA is something you do for love and because you want to make a difference not because you want to be paid well so you must understand that you won't experience rapid salary progression BUT the rewards in other areas make working as a TA incredibly fulfilling and the flexibility for working parents is brilliant. I was also offered the opportunity to take part in a school centered teacher training programme so there is career progression for those who want it.
Do you have any suggestions on how Herts Schools can make their vacancies more attractive
to candidates?
Really sell the benefits for parents who are often well qualified but wanting a role that fits in with their family life while their children are young. Maybe a web page for parents which schools could signpost in their newsletters explaining the process of applying to work in a school. It was quite different from any application process I had ever been through.