From established career to primary classroom

Background

After several years in a completely different profession, this trainee began to question whether their career still felt meaningful. They had always enjoyed working with people, explaining ideas and supporting others to grow, but teaching had remained a “maybe one day” ambition.

“I had a good job, but I kept coming back to the same thought: I wanted to do something that felt more purposeful. Teaching was always in the back of my mind, but changing career felt like a huge leap.”

After spending time in school and speaking to people in education, they decided to apply for teacher training.

“I realised that I didn’t need to have followed a traditional university route. The skills I had built in my previous career, like communication, organisation and problem-solving, were all relevant. I just needed the right training to help me use them in the classroom.”

Training Year: Building a New Professional Identity

Starting again in a new profession felt daunting at first, but the school-centred nature of the course helped them learn through experience.

“I liked being in school from early on. It helped me understand what teaching really looks like day to day. I wasn’t just learning about teaching, I was gradually becoming a teacher.”

They valued the link between theory and practice, especially opportunities to try strategies in the classroom, reflect on them and improve.

“The reflections were a big part of my development. At first, I wanted to write everything that had happened. Over time, I learned to focus more on what pupils had learned, what I had noticed and what I would do differently next time.”

Overcoming Challenges: Starting Again

One of the hardest parts was moving from feeling experienced in one career to feeling like a beginner again.

“That was probably the biggest adjustment. I was used to knowing what I was doing, and suddenly I was learning something completely new. It was humbling, but also exciting.”

Support from mentors and tutors helped them build confidence and see progress over time.

“My mentor helped me break things down. Instead of trying to become brilliant at everything all at once, I learned to focus on small steps. Those small steps made a huge difference.”

Advice for Future Trainees

They encourage other career changers to see their previous experience as an asset.

“Don’t think you are starting from nothing. You bring skills, perspective and resilience with you. Teaching is a new profession, but your previous career has already shaped the kind of teacher you can become.”

Why This Matters

This story reflects Portsmouth SCITT’s belief that there is no single route into teaching. Career changers bring valuable experience, maturity and insight to the classroom, and with the right training and mentoring, they can build a confident new professional identity.