I'm an NQT - What Can I Expect Leading up to Christmas?

Where has the time gone!? It’s nearly Christmas already and you are a third of your way through your induction if you are working full time - doesn’t time fly when you are having fun?!

As the end of term 2 approaches, it is recommended you start to piece together the evidence you have gathered across terms 1 and 2 to show you are meeting some of the Teachers’ Standards. This doesn’t mean you need boxes and boxes of your work, just a reference document which highlights what evidence relates to which standard and where to find the evidence is absolutely fine. Take this to your assessment meeting and use it as a discussion point to talk about your progress.  Don’t assume your tutor is already aware of the evidence you have – they are not in the classroom with you all the time and so inevitably they will not see all of your excellent work.

When your tutor writes your assessment, they will be asked to give a short description of your strengths, evidence to support this and SMART targets against each of the Teachers' Standards as well as an overall grading. It is therefore really important that you use the assessment meeting as an opportunity for you and your tutor to discuss your progress as well as discussing the grade that best represents your progress for the term.   

Most NQTs who started in September will now be making satisfactory progress towards meeting the Teachers’ Standards (this is a C grade).  A very small number of NQTs with previous experience may be making good or even excellent progress at this point in time and will have lots of evidence to support the good or excellent rating.  

Don’t feel disheartened if you are not graded as highly as you were at the end of your teacher training year. The standards you are assessed against now are the standards that all teachers are assessed against no matter what stage they are in their career!  So, if you have been graded as satisfactory or below, don’t panic! Find out which areas to focus on to improve your practice, set up an action plan to follow in terms 3 and 4 and it won’t be long before you will be achieving good or excellent progress. You can always speak to us if you are worried (see contact details at the bottom).  

The term 2 assessment is due by 19th December but can be completed by your tutor at any point online via Kent-Teach, from 5th December. So, if you haven’t already got a date in the diary to discuss your assessment, then arrange a date as soon as possible. Once the assessment has been completed, you will be prompted to read it, add your own comments and then digitally sign it online. Once signed by you, your tutor will be able to sign and submit it to us online. We then read the assessments and follow up with your school if we have any queries.  

Once this has been done, hopefully you will be able to relax and enjoy your Christmas break. It’s really important to rest so that you feel refreshed and ready for the start of term 3 - so resist the temptation to spend your break working if you can.

Don’t forget, we are here to help so please get in touch via email or 03000 421149 and/or follow/like us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with induction news, advice and tips!