Blog

Sophie joined our Graduate Academy in January and started doing roles such as exam 1:1 reading/scribing, cover supervisor and general TA support. She has just since secured an English academic coach role from April-July through us to continue to gain experience in a more specialist role. 

We asked her a few questions to help others who may be considering joining make a more informed decision. This is what she had to say.

Victoria graduated university during the pandemic and found the current job market challenging with many roles requiring experience that she wasn't able to obtain due to the restrictions in place. Our Graduate Academy has given her the skills necessary and the experience needed to find a job in the field of her degree; psychology.

We asked her a few questions to help others who may be considering joining make a more informed decision. This is what she had to say.

Meet Tia! She’s a graduate teaching assistant who has been working in one of our SEN primary schools. Tia is a valued member of Graduate Academy and joined us upon completing a degree in Counselling at the University of Coventry. 

Say hello to Ferida who completed our Introduction to Teaching Assistant Course with South and City College Birmingham back in September 2021. Find out how she found it and what she's been up to since completing it.

Our Graduate Academy is designed to help graduates take their first step on the teaching ladder and offers them a paid opportunity to discover whether teaching is the right career choice for them.

We asked Beth, who joined our Graduate Academy earlier this year to give us a run-through of what life is like in the classroom and what is expected of her - the good, the bad and the ugly. However, you’ll be pleased to know (as we were!) there’s no too much bad, or ugly for that matter! Here’s is what she had to say.

The day has finally arrived it’s World Emoji Day! To celebrate we wanted to do something a bit different. As you may know, emojis represent a wide, complex range of emotions. Emotions that teachers go through everyday…

Unless you work in education, it’s unlikely you’ll have any idea of what a cover supervisor is. But it’s likely that you may have been taught by a cover supervisor at some point during your time at school.

When Shaik joined us back in March 2018, he wasn’t familiar with the role either but he has gone on to become one of our most valuable cover supervisors. So, who better than to tell you about being a cover supervisor and what it entails?

Louise went from dance teacher to cover supervisor with the help of Smile.

Bernie is one of our longest-serving (and hardest working) supply teachers and has been with Smile for years! So, if you are working what it's like working for a supply teaching agency or what the job of a supply teacher involves and getting some tips then keep reading.

Have you ever wondered what a day in the life of a support worker is like? Well, wonder no longer. 

Ever wondered what life is like for an NQT? James tells all.