Examples of Personal Statements from GTP ... - Wildern School

Examples of Personal Statements from GTP Applications
Example 3
Teaching English has been something I have aspired to do since a young age but felt it
was important to experience the world of work first. I worked in various environments
ranging from a building society to insurance companies, working as a counter clerk to
managing departments which enabled me to develop people management skills which
has already been invaluable whilst working both as a Teaching Assistant and now as a
Cover Supervisor. When I started working at ******* I discovered that there was the
opportunity to take a degree course run at the University of ***** which would enable
me to embark on a teaching career whilst still being able to work and provide for my
family. Having achieved a 2:1 in July 2009 ******'s Head of English and Headteacher
have both encouraged me to complete my training through the GTP programme.
The BA (Hons) in English Education Studies (BAEES) prepares students to teach the
National Curriculum and A-level English; including a wide range of English literature
including poetry (17 th century to present), prose, Shakespeare's plays, including the
study of a range of theoretical perspectives and a range of contexts when analysing
texts. Additionally, its curriculum includes a large amount of teaching pedagogy
included within the English and Drama curricula, and therefore I feel the Graduate
Teacher Programme is a more suitable route into teaching for me than the PGCE in
which much of the pedagogy will be repeated. It is also important that I am in a paid
post whilst I complete my initial teacher training as I am the sole financial provider for
my two teenage sons and myself.
I have worked as a Teaching Assistant for six years and have an extensive
understanding of working in this environment; in addition to my studies during my
degree the teaching assistant role has enabled me to work alongside experienced
teachers and remain up to date with educational legislation and the issues surrounding
education generally. This was also an integral element of my BA course which is
designed to be undertaken by experienced Teaching Assistants who continue to work in
school over the three years of the course and we were expected to reflect and evaluate
pedagogical methodology encountered both at school and university.
I have taken a cover supervisor role for this academic year to enable me to consolidate
my classroom management skills, so that when I begin my GTP training I would be able
to concentrate more on the subject specific aspects of teaching English. As a result of
the way in which I have been able to manage the classes I have covered, I have been
asked to take over the timetable for two members of staff whilst they were on paternity
leave so that their classes would have continuity and progress in their learning during
the time their teachers were absent.
Over the past six years I have met and worked with some exemplary teachers. In my
role as a Teaching Assistant I was in the extremely fortunate position of being able to
observe many different teaching styles. This has enabled me to understand how
different approaches work with different pupils, and to draw on a wide range of subject
teachers' experiences to help me develop my own style. I have needed to ensure that I
can meet both school and university deadlines to ensure that my lessons are prepared
and differentiated for the students with whom I work at ****** whilst ensuring that my
university assignments were drafted and passed to my tutor in good time to enable me
to submit my final pieces by the deadlines.
I am passionate about the teaching of English, to open up the world of literature to
young people and to help them explore the many wonderful facets of the English
language. I believe my enthusiasm and knowledge of English will enable me to succeed

in delivering the subject to a high standard and to create an enthusiastic atmosphere
among the students I teach. Having worked for over six years in a high school, I have
learnt to deal with many different characters and to adjust my approach to the differing
needs of students. I think that my experience in the workplace also adds a wider
understanding of the needs of education and the requirements of employers and can
bring the relevance of the workplace into the taught curriculum.