Imagine a room full of people, just like you. You’ve all made the decision to challenge yourselves; to leave what you know and take a step into the unknown (with the help of Now Teach, of course).
Well, that’s happening soon at our annual conference. The Now Teach Network will be together for the first time – in person – since our conference in 2019.
“I regard the Network as one of the most essential factors in negotiating this exciting new career path, so being able to be in the same room again is a fundamental part of Now Teach’s offer and support.”
Stephen King, former Banking and Strategy Consultant, now History Teacher
Our Network meet for a day of panels and workshops, to listen to some of education's most influential people, and to think big about the future of their collective impact in schools and on young people.
This year we’re focusing on preparing for training, managing relationships, wellbeing and workload. Now Teachers will also get to soak up the experiences of guest speakers, Doug Lemov, Author of ‘Teach Like a Champion’, and Mouhssin Ismail, career changer and Principal of Newham Collegiate Sixth Form.
The lead-up to our conference always reminds us that the Network is one of the most powerful things we do at Now Teach: connecting like-minded career changers and teachers, who are having an immense impact on young people, schools, and even wider as they bridge the gap between the world of work and education.
On that note, we asked our Head of Programme, Sarah, to reflect on the journey of the Network so far...
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The photograph below is from August 2019. Now Teachers are gathered in Lucy Kellaway’s back garden, with Lucy standing on a chair telling them how hard it is about to get.
I can still remember low-level worry about how we would feed everyone and how we would make sure everyone got the chance to network and share their experiences as career-changers.
Between then and now, we’ve welcomed and supported two training years digitally. Like most schools and teacher training providers we quickly flexed our offer to be delivered online once COVID hit, ably supported by all our speakers, and buoyed by our Network.
And we’re proud that 91% of Now Teachers agreed that we adapted to meet their needs during Covid-19 and school closures.
Throughout the pandemic, we navigated icebreakers, dreaded breakout rooms, and of course, forgot we were on mute multiple times... but our Network embraced it, and we made it work.
It’s amazing to think that in 2017 when we started, we didn’t offer anything online, it was all in person, now our offer is hybrid in line with our recent national status and national training year.
It's hard to replicate the joy of being able to introduce a trainee Now Teacher – with an idea for an initiative in their school – to a Now Teacher three years into their career – who is delivering an enrichment club for their school – to plot and share their ideas.
“You get to meet such admirable and interesting individuals it makes you proud to be part of the same group. I’ve received great support from Now Teachers I’ve met - from across training years - empathising with problems and suggesting solutions. It’s inspiring to see Now Teachers a few years further down the road who are happy and thriving as teachers in a wide variety of schools.”
- Sonya Dowsett, ex Journalist, now Chemistry Teacher
Looking back to 2019, I should never have worried about Now Teachers’ ability to network and share experiences. It’s inherent in who they are and where they’ve come from – and it’s because of those skills that they enrich their classes, students, and fellow career-changers every day.
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If we’ve inspired you to retrain to teach and you’ve secured a placement for September 2022 – then there's still time for you to join our Network of 400+ career changers: register your interest.
Don’t forget to download our free resource, Prepare For Take Off, to help you get ready for training!
“And suddenly you feel you’re not alone - you’re not going through this challenging process of metamorphosis that can sometimes feel overwhelming - on your own.”
- Sonya Dowsett, ex Journalist, now Chemistry Teacher
