47 new teachers start their probation in local schools
Teaching is in the DNA for 47 Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT) who start their year-long probation with Inverclyde Council on Wednesday.
The intake is one of the biggest ever in Inverclyde with 29 primary and 18 secondary teachers starting their careers at the ‘chalk-face’.
Sisters Gillian and Erin Haggerty are following in their mother Elaine’s footsteps and hope to emulate her 30 year career. Both completed Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) courses.
Erin said, “We always admired our mother’s dedication and she really inspired us both to go into teaching. You could say she passed it on to us. I’m very, very excited to be beginning work and the start of term can’t come soon enough.”
Gillian said, “I’m nervous but also very excited. It’s been good Erin and I doing teaching together. We have a support system and we can share ideas. We’re not in the same school but I did a placement in the school where she’s going to be teaching so I feel as though I’m in there with her.”
Mother and daughter team, Lorna Goodall and Nicole Wylie, also supported each other through their PGCE courses. Lorna already has 30 years experience working with young children and that wealth of knowledge is going to be invaluable.
Her daughter, Nicole, said, “All I’ve ever wanted to do is be a teacher. I had a really positive experience at primary school and I want to educate and inspire the next generation of children. I spent a lot of time over the summer getting my classroom ready and making it as warm and welcoming as possible.”
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Convener of Inverclyde Council’s Education & Communities Committee, said, “Our NQTs are going into a very different environment than any of them could possibly have expected when they qualified.
“All our school have hand sanitisers, one-way systems and social distancing measures in place. But it will be up to our NQTs and their colleagues to re-engage children with learning and to help them deal with the after effects of the Covid 19 pandemic and lockdown.
“But all of them have worked extremely hard to be here and I know their dedication and professionalism can only benefit the children and young people of Inverclyde.”