St Mary's University is offering a teacher training pathway for school support staff.

Mark Collett an Education student at St Mary's University has just completed hisFoundation Degree Education in Context course and he's now taking the next step towards his goal of becoming a Primary School teacher by starting his 'Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) work-based route' in September 2020.

Mark, 32 is from Brentford and teaching represents a significant career change for him. Mark has previously worked as a refuse collector, in a pub and at Heathrow Airport.

Mark has been looking for 'something different' for some time and after becoming a teaching assistant in the PE Department of his old school Mark realised that he wanted to teach.

Mark said "Of all the jobs I've done nothing has given me the same fulfilment as working with children, helping them to grow and to develop as learners. I can't wait to start my Primary Education with the QTS course in September and I'm hoping to graduate in 2022."

Prof Anna Lise Gordon the Director of the Institute of Education at St Mary's University said "Mark is an excellent example of our dedicated work-based students who are seeking a change in career or who wish to progress from teaching assistant to qualified teacher. Teaching is such a fulfilling job and there is a real need for people like Mark to join the profession and inspire children in their learning."

In 2019 the Institute of Education at St Mary's retained its Outstanding rating from Ofsted for its Initial Teacher Education (ITE) provision, with the report stating that "a special feature of St Mary's is the bespoke support given to individuals before, during and after they gain qualified teacher status."

For details of the Primary Education with QTS course and a video featuring Mark's journey so far at St Mary's please see the links below.

Click HERE and HERE