My placement has given me invaluable first hand experiences of a state comprehensive school as a working environment.  I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent observing and assisting within a variety of music classes.  Watching and listening to different teaching styles and approaches, it was a great opportunity to see the National Curriculum in practice as it is laid in tasks and projects for the pupils.  Discussing each time with the teachers their methods to monitor and encourage the pupil’s progress through Key Stage 3 to GCSE.

I was able to support the teachers in the mixed ability classes by integrating with groups and individuals, talking with them about the work set, answering questions and providing encouragement with praise in their ideas.  I used my degree specialism to further explain the necessity of music in their education.  Teaching requires an endless amount of energy to continually monitor the class whilst promoting the individuals use of imagination and maintaining their quality in their outcomes and musical approaches to work.  I stayed in for some lunch times for jazz clubs where students practiced for a performance.

In order to help raise the pupils self esteem and confidence, it was important to provide them with constant advice and opportunity for inspiration; I encouraged them to look in books and at worksheets, visual material available in the space around them, praising those who made good levels of effort. It is important to always promote the positive aspects of their work.

I had one day which I followed various different types of staff such as a FSA (faculty support assistant), TA (Teaching Assistant) and a cover supervisor. All of these were observed in different subjects from music such as technology, English and History. I did this to broaden my knowledge of various different paths to becoming a teaching and to see if music would be my chosen subject into teaching.

I believe I have been a positive and mature role model for the students, dressing smartly and acting in a responsible manner.  I took the opportunity to provide a Year 10 Music Class with a short presentation of my development through further and higher education.  Using a website and a DVD of me performing live to show some of my work and what to expect to produce when going to university.  I talked of my experiences, including being a member of the university of Portsmouth go-karting team, Performing live in the Royal Albert Hall and mean fiddler in central London and various other famous musical locations, my career aspirations to become a teacher and some of the philosophies behind my music work and performance. I treated the pupils with respect and care, as I saw that teachers expect in return.  For those who behaved immaturely or disrespectfully towards one another, I stepped in to diffuse the situation assessing the problem and maintaining the work flow in the class room.

I spoke to teachers at staff meetings, after class and at breaks in the staff room or department.  I have begun to build a real understanding of the opportunities and routes for progression/promotion through teaching as a profession, discussing workloads, pay and the significance of finding the school that is right for you.  My music placement has given me more determination to continue my career into teaching, and I am very much looking forward to my PGCE training this coming academic year.