Shereen started her career in education as a teaching assistant in a mainstream school before gaining her TA role at Bluebell School, a school that provides education for pupils with complex social, emotional and mental health needs, autistic spectrum disorder and/or cognitive and learning difficulties through a personalised and therapeutic approach.

We asked Shereen to share her journey to becoming a qualified teacher and her experience of the Straight to Teaching programme.

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Tell us about your previous roles

During my time in a mainstream setting, I was employed as a TA and worked covering and leading classes. This involved planning and delivering lessons, assessing children and feeding back to parents. I worked closely with the school’s SEN children and adapted their curriculum and work so it was accessible to them. I also ran an after-school club where I was employed for five years.

I then moved to Bluebell School where I began as a TA and worked my way towards becoming a teacher. Again, I led sessions and covered for the classroom teacher where I was able to plan and deliver lessons. I worked with children with complex needs and adapted their work to create a bespoke learning environment. I have now been at Bluebell school for nearly five years.

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What inspired you to start the Straight to Teaching course?

I have always wanted to teach and this stemmed from when I was younger and my own experience of primary school. At university I studied education and disability studies, but then struggled to find employment in a school due to my lack of experience and went into a job in care. Although this job was great in so many ways it was not my passion or where I wanted to be.

I continued to apply for jobs in schools and was eventually employed in a mainstream primary setting. I thoroughly enjoyed my job and my time at this school, however after a length of time and with no opportunity for career progression, I decided to apply for a job within an SEN setting as I felt that this was my area of interest.

After two years of being at Bluebell School and gaining a range of experience, there was an opportunity to apply for the ����Vlog Institute Straight to Teaching course. Bluebell School agreed to support me on my ����Vlog journey to obtain QTS.

Using the in-school route was a much better route as it allowed me to remain in employment while I continued my training. This meant that I was still able to have an income to support out-of-work responsibilities.

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Describe your learning journey on the Straight to Teaching course

My Straight to Teaching journey was two terms and, as I had prior experience of working within a mainstream setting, I didn’t need to go on a second school placement. I was able to structure my work and study to manage the two running alongside each other. I found that planning the term or half term in advance along with resources made it easier for me to focus on my course week by week.

I had two mentors throughout my journey, initially the school’s deputy head and when she went on maternity leave, the school’s head teacher. I was fully supported throughout my journey and help was at hand whenever it was needed.

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How has Straight to Teaching supported you in your career?

Since gaining my QTS I have moved on to pass my ECT year and continue to teach at Bluebell School. Straight to Teaching has helped my career as it has allowed me to progress and become a fully qualified teacher.

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Learn more about Straight to Teaching

To date, we've supported 3,131* teachers to gain QTS.��If you’re looking to progress from TA to qualified teacher without leaving your current school, take a look at our��Straight to Teaching course page. If you’re a school leader interested in developing staff at your school you’ll find more information on our��Straight to Teaching for schools page.

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*Database of trainee teachers and providers and internal data (Salesforce), December 2022