Shaping the Next Generation of Teachers - Mentoring with United Teaching
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Shaping the Next Generation of Teachers: Mr Andy Mackenzie on Mentoring with United Teaching
At Northern Schools Trust, we believe that developing exceptional teachers is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of education. This year, English teacher Mr Andy Mackenzie has been mentoring a trainee teacher through the United Teaching programme, supporting them as they take their first steps into the profession.
In this interview, Mr Mackenzie reflects on the rewards of mentoring, the structured support provided by United Teaching, and the impact a trainee can have on a department and the wider school community. He speaks passionately about helping new teachers build confidence, develop their classroom practice, and ultimately transform the lives of the young people they teach.
What has your experience of mentoring a United Teaching trainee been, and what has stood out most about the programme?
I have loved my experience of mentoring a United Teaching trainee this academic year. Statistically, teaching is a profession that struggles to retain after the first year and I feel that it is absolutely vital to provide a platform that allows trainees to express themselves confidently in the classroom. United Teaching have ignited a passion in me to develop the next generation of exemplary English teachers, and I have been extremely fortunate to work with a wonderful trainee this year.
Every academic year is a journey of emotions for the most experienced teachers, so for trainees to understand this, be encouraged to ‘ride the waves’ of experiences and control the exhilaration of the classroom dynamic from day one in September, there really is no better provider. There is no denying that demands and responsibilities are placed upon the shoulders of teaching staff. However, there is absolutely no substitute for enhancing the knowledge of the next generation.
How have the support and training provided by United Teaching, including the guidance from your Professional and Lead Mentor, helped you in your role as a subject Mentor?
United Teaching offers consistent support to all mentors, and I have felt supported in every step of the journey this year. I have liaised consistently with my Professional and Lead mentors in verbal conversations, zoom meetings and over telephone calls. They leave ‘no stone unturned’ in their dedication and passion to support at every level. There has not been one week of the academic year where I have felt unsure in what I am doing. This is because a weekly email is sent with bulletins and meeting feedback documents. The bulletin processes everything that you need for that week and the upcoming weeks – with notice of when the December and March reports are due and specific guidelines set to support.
If there are any questions that I need to ask, I know that I can always rely upon my Professional Mentor in school and if anything is escalated (fortunately that has not been the case this year) – then I know that I will always receive a supportive response from my Lead Mentor. The feedback document offers structure to your feedback meetings to allow for a consistent conversation and an opportunity for ‘deliberate practice’ which involves the physical ‘acting out’ of targets to an empty classroom. This is productive, as it allows the trainee to replicate the modelled physical movements and demeanour displayed by the mentor.
What impact has having a United Teaching trainee had on your department or school?
When reflecting upon the ideology of consistent and successful departments, vocabulary such as ‘honest, committed, dedicated, vibrant, harmonious, conscientious’ spring to mind immediately. All of these adjectives apply to the personality of my United Teaching trainee. This is the reason why having a trainee from United Teaching can have a transformational impact upon the dynamics of a department. My trainee enters every single lesson with passion and a determination to transform the lives of the students sat in front of her, therefore aligning with the ideology of the current English department.
It is imperative for trainees to develop flexibility in their pedagogy to react to classroom scenarios and be able to deal with these in an appropriate manner. When contributing to the development of these qualities of the trainee throughout the academic year, it is a hugely rewarding process for the mentor. In possessing flexibility, Untied Teaching trainees gain valuable practice in utilising a repertoire of strategies to deal with the range of scenarios that can develop in classroom situations. Our United Teaching trainee has taken part in Key Stage four moderation sessions, taught year 11 intervention classes and succeeded in ‘breaking down’ barriers to learning for students in year 10 that have specific SEND and EAL needs.
What would you say to another school or colleague who is considering becoming a placement school for United Teaching?
I would advocate United Teaching to any prospective teacher or school. They have helped me identify a pathway in my career that I have a fierce passion for. The feeling of standing in front of a group of thirty students in a classroom, shaping their minds and thoughts, can be hugely daunting. However, with the structured route that United Teaching offers, combined with the level of support, there is simply no better option.
Each week offers a different focus – all relating directly to pertinent pedagogical strategies that align with the trainee’s developmental journey. We have developed a continuity this year, where my trainee totally understands my expectations and has been able to apply my weekly targets in the lessons that follow. This process has enabled my trainee to develop productive routines that are now evident in every single lesson. Some targets are longer term but they are always considered and I have witnessed evidence of our conversations prevalent in every single lesson that has been taught this year. We liaise daily regarding pedagogy, how making the constant ‘tiny tweaks’ to lessons can have monumental outcomes. Examples of these tweaks have involved sequencing, communication, questioning, pace, positioning, Do Now tasks, links between key stages... the list goes on! It is all part of the continuous developmental journey that United Teaching offers.
Interested in inspiring the next generation?
Whether you're considering a career in teaching or looking to train with a supportive school, click here to find out more about teaching opportunities with Northern Schools Trust and United Teaching.