Top Ten Tips for an NQT

September 26th, 2018

Our Top Ten Tips for an NQT

  1. Meet with your mentor every week, even if you feel that you are too busy. Reflect on what has gone well, what hasn’t and any developmental opportunities.
  2. Keep an Evidence File (early professional development portfolio) to record how you are meeting the standards and developing as a teacher. This can be in any form, just presented in a way that you are comfortable with. Link your evidence to each teaching standard. Quality rather than quantity is the key; you will need 3 – 5 pieces of evidence for each standard across the year.
  3. Look after yourself and your mental wellbeing. Continue with, or start, interests and hobbies outside work. Hobbies and clubs are really important to keep you motivated, fulfilled and positive.
  4. Don’t be disillusioned if you feel that your induction assessments appear not to reflect the outcomes you achieved during your teacher training. Remember you are on a learning curve and you have now made the transition from student to NQT so the expectations will be higher.
  5. Read the school’s policies and the NQT statutory documents so that you know exactly what is expected of you. Get to know your school’s senior leadership team and designated safeguarding lead so that you know who to speak to in different situations.
  6. Make use of your 10% professional development time for its intended purpose. Visit other teachers and schools, meet with the SENCO and subject leaders, and keep a record of these experiences in your Evidence File.
  7. Make use of the Staff Room! Meet colleagues and other members of school staff by getting into the staff room at break times, lunch times and any spare time you have! Schools, as busy as they are, can be lonely places and making connections and relationships from the very beginning can have a positive impact. You will be able to learn from the experiences of colleagues, and this will increase your sense of wellbeing.
  8. Prepare for the “difficult” times coming back after Christmas and Easter. Make sure everything is ready before you go off for the break, even if it’s a rough plan of action. This includes planning time for yourself as well as seeing family and friends.
  9. Behaviour problems are not your fault – do seek advice and support.
    And Finally,
  10. Don’t be afraid to seek advice, either from your mentor, other school-based colleagues or the Octavo NQT induction team – telephone 0208 241 5483.

Christine Lonsdale, the Octavo Partnership NQT expert, has many years of experience in supporting NQTs and so do call her if you worried or have questions, telephone Christine Lonsdale 07920657797

EVERY TEACHER WILL REMEMBER THEIR NQT YEAR. OCTAVO’S NQT EXPERT, CHRISTINE LONSDALE, SHARES HER TOP TIPS FOR GETTING THE ABSOLUTE BEST OUT OF IT.