Today I had the opportunity to go on a school trip with year 8’s and Danny (English Teacher) to Dartmoor Zoo. The purpose of this trip was to take certain year 8 students, who were voted by the rest of the year, to a full day session on how they can support their peers when/if they find out they are smoking. This was set up and ran by the NHS.

The day consisted of multiple activities to get pupils thinking of effects that smoking can give, and set them loads of scenarios, which involved acting, creating and thinking – relating to the ethos of the school.

During breaks, pupils and teachers got given free food, and we were able to explore around the zoo. During the lunch break, myself, one of the NHS supporters and 6 students walked around the zoo. An incident occurred during this walk where a member of the public decided to swear and tell off one of the pupils for being disrespectful to the wolves. This was a difficult situation as I had no fully qualified teacher with me to handle it. We all ended up walking away, not saying anything, and I spoke to the effected pupil separately, then fed back to Danny who was inside at the time.

Overall the trip was a different experience for me. Working with new pupils, in a different environment, with different situations which had to be dealt with on the spot.

Today I began by assisting Poppy in her lesson, the group are year 10 GCSE students, and they are currently studying the effects of smoking and alcohol on the body. I sat with a few students, helping them with exam style questions, giving them more information, and giving them advice on how to word sentences.

One of the questions I was asked today was ‘How would you tell someone politely, who is obese, that they need to get fitter?’ This was a good question and made me think. The question was discussed throughout the group I was working with to come up with ideas and to find an insight into getting people fit.

After lunch, I joined Alex’s group for athletics (Sprinting) at the Athletics track. This will be the group that I will be teaching shot-put on Wednesday 16th May. They are a good group of year 7 girls, that like PE, listen well, but need reminding to stop talking every now and then! The lesson lasted around 35 minutes due to the walk up and the walk back being very long. The lesson consisted of some sprinting games to warm up (Rats and Rabbits) and a quick demonstration of how to do sprint starts. Next lesson they will practise the technique on how to sprint effectively.

Today was the schools ‘tenth day’ where they have the whole day being taught PSHE subjects. Subject would include: SRE, Physcial and Mental health, Smoking and Vaping, Nutrients, Relaxation, and Rethinking Sugary Drinks.

I started the day with Russ and Jezz in half a sports hall playing basketball with the year 10 boys, as the weather was too atrocious to step out in. Pupils did a mini tournament, and then attempted to beat me, Russ and Jezz in a single hoop game. The pupils enjoyed watching it and challenging.

After break, I was assisting Alex in her tenth day subject ‘Rethink your drink’. The lesson went over the eat-well plate and a healthy, balanced diet. The main activity consisted of looking at common drinks we all like to drink and finding out how much sugar is actually in them. For example, a 500ml bottle of Coca Cola has 55g of Sugar in it! The lesson was a real eye opener for the students and for me!

After a 4 week break from the school over Easter, it was great to get back in and see everyone.

Due to a morning lecture, I started half way through the school day. I sat in BTEC Sport, giving assistance to pupils as they were revising for their upcoming exams. Alex used a partner revision quiz, getting pupils to battle against each other by getting the most answers correct. The pupils got very involved and enjoyed the revision.

After lunch, I went on a walk around the city for an Art trip with year 7’s. It was great to get a perspective of different subjects and meet new teachers and new pupils around the school. We took a trip to the hoe, taking pictures and notes on the surrounding environment and historical events that took place in Plymouth.

On these days, Myself, Jezz, and Maddy assisted on a school trip to Marjon Sports Centre. The purpose of the trip was to take year 5, 6, 7 and 8 to the sports hall where they will be taught lessons and activities relating to health.

These are taught by third years. The lessons lasted around 1 hour, and the groups were split into friendship type groups. After the trip, pupils and teachers were taken home on the coach to resume the normal day.

Over the last few weeks, I have been observing, taking part, and teaching some parts of lessons.

On the Wednesdays and Fridays I attend placement, I work with year 7 core PE, year 8 core PE, and year 10 GCSE and BTEC groups.

Year 7’s have been doing Gymnastics with Russ and Alex since the new year, working on the basics, partner balances, key context and performance. During these lessons I have demonstrated, performed, judged performances giving feedback, and led warm-ups.

Year 8’s have been doing Ultimate Frisbee with Russ and Milo. Together, we have worked on the basics, the fundamentals, how to throw and catch the disc, and how to use the basic skills in a game situation, and gaining an insight to the rules of Ultimate Frisbee.

Year 10 GCSE group have been learning about sports injuries. These lessons are mostly theory, so my job as a TA is to give assistance and explanation to those who need it. Also I manage behaviour and make sure students are working to their potential.

Year 10 BTEC group have been learning about different sports, rules, and how to play them. During my lessons with them, acting as a TA, they have been researching Badminton, recording their own game play of the sports, and discussing how and where this fits into the game.

My first day began with a short tour of the school from head of PE Russ Martin.

The school was relatively small, yet very different to usual schools I have attended or worked at. The school uses studios instead of classrooms; they have three one-hundred minute lessons, which work similar to lectures in that they are taught the main points and are given time to research what they have just learned; the school, as the name suggests, focuses on improving the childrens’ creative arts, such as photography, art, dance, and acting, etc.

Most of the day was spent with year 9 and 10 GCSE Theory classes, I helped pupils if they had any questions and helped them to understand what they were looking at.

In BTEC Sport, I spent time doing 1 on 1 teaching with a student who struggled with the English language and writing. Usually this student struggles to concentrate and drifts off easily, having me there allowed him to get work done, whilst understanding what he was writing. This gave me a pleasant feeling, to know that a student who struggles regularly managed to work so well with my help.

I recently got accepted by Plymouth School of Creative Arts to complete my 100 hours placement, but before I started, I had forms to complete and a safeguarding meeting to attend.

Today was the safeguarding meeting with 11 other teachers. We watched a 1 hour long video, explaining the schools own way of dealing with the safety of children on and off site. It introduced new and reoccurring subjects in safeguarding, which developed my own understanding further, and in more detail. The experience could have been more hands-on and involving, rather than watching 1 video for an hour, however it included lots of detail and resources.

Safeguarding and contract forms were then filled out, I had my picture taken, and that was it. It would have been nice to get a tour of the school before my start date but they did not have time, or the staff to take us round.

Below is one of the main safeguarding resources that were used at the meeting.

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