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Nick, a career changer, shares his story of transitioning from a self-employed joiner and roofer to becoming a teacher. Nick discusses how he found his love for teaching, the desire to make a positive impact, and the challenges he has faced during his career transition. He highlights the importance of accessible learning at Cumbria, the support he has received from tutors, and his plans for the future.
Firstly, could you tell us about your background before you decided to go into teaching?
I am 47 years old, and before COVID-19, I was a joiner and a roofer; I was self-employed and had done this job for 16 years. I have been a single parent for much of my adult life. My two children are now 23 and 25; one works in care, and the other is in the army. When I was 33, I was diagnosed with Lupus. This is a rare auto-immune disease that can be quite debilitating if not managed carefully, and it is also photosensitive. Working as a roofer was not well suited for this illness. Lockdown allowed me to reassess my life and give my health the required attention. I returned to university to study photography, as it had been a passion of mine for many years.
Why did you choose to go into teaching?
As I neared the end of my degree, I needed to think about the long-term plan. I love photography but want to keep it as my passion rather than a full-time job. As a joiner, I worked with scouts, church, youth charities, etc. I enjoyed using my skills to do some good in the world. I thought that in my next job, I would like to feel like I am contributing. I enjoyed working as a scout leader in my 20s and 30s and loved being a Dad. I had been hesitant, in the past, about going into teaching as I didn’t have the best time at school as a pupil, which was a shame as I have always loved to learn. Now that I am older, I see this as more of a motivator than an obstacle to teaching.
I was unsure at first what age group I wanted to teach, so I went on holiday with my three nephews and niece, ages 15 and 13, and twins, ages 9. I took the teenage boys out for a photography lesson. We made some fantastic images using deliberate camera movement techniques and had a lot of fun doing it. The next day, I went for a walk with the twins; as we walked, we chatted about all sorts: the nature around us, the history of the area we were in, school, and life in general. I really enjoyed their company and their insatiable curiosity. The variety of subjects I get to teach really attracted me to primary school teaching.
Why did you choose the University of Cumbria?
It has a first-class reputation and is right on my doorstep!
What do you enjoy most about your course?
I am very impressed by the organisation. I love that I can access lecture slides for all my lectures. This has been particularly useful when planning on placement and struggling to remember the vast amount of information I am trying to digest over a very short period.
How would you describe the support you've had from lecturers during your course?
I am not a fan of academic writing; this learning strategy does not work well for me. However, I understand it is a necessity for education at this level. I have found my tutors to be very supportive in the planning process, and with just the right amount of encouragement, I hope I’ve done enough to get me over the line.
My course tutor and the tutor overseeing my placement have been aware of my illness throughout the course and have made sure I manage my workload and take time where I need it to stay healthy.
What would you say to anyone considering teacher training? Any advice?
Clear your diary! This course is the most intense learning experience I have ever had. From subject knowledge to pedagogical approach and from behaviour management to managing your TA, the challenges and learning are staggering. However, don’t let this put you off; it is fascinating, and all this learning is valuable and necessary. Time spent on placement, the kids will make you laugh daily and remind you that learning can be a lot of fun and why you chose to come on this journey.