The CES would like to wish those beginning their teaching career this September all the very best as they embark on their new journey. 

Ed Boyle, Director of Secondary Initial Teacher Training and Religious Education at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, had some words of advice earlier this month for the new teaching graduates at St Mary's:

In your first year of teaching you will still be dealing with numerous standards as part of your induction year. These standards should allow you to consolidate the standards you began more than 11 months ago. Do please remember however there is more to teaching than jumping through the hoops of standards. There is your own ability to be a critical and reflective practitioner and to bring from the pupils in your charge their own critical capacity.

We must ensure that we make teaching a moral visionary profession. It means teachers recapturing their status and dignity as some of society’s leading intellectuals, and not being the mere technicians, instruments  and deliverers of other people’s agendas   ………… As Hargreaves maintains, “those who focus only on teaching techniques and curriculum standards and who do not also engage teachers in the greater social and moral questions of their time , promote a diminished view of teaching and teacher professionalism that has no place in a sophisticated knowledge society”

It is our job as teachers to nurture a mystical and moral vision in our young and to do this we need more than a set of standards for teaching.  We need to offer ourselves and our pupils:

A time to be suspicious

A time to pose questions

A time to listen

A time to gaze into the depths

A time to dream and think big

A time for dialogue

A time to challenge

A time to pray – with others and alone.

We at St. Mary’s wish you every success as you go on your own professional and indeed mystical journey with those you are extremely privileged to teach. Good luck to you all in the professional and wonderful journey you have now embarked upon.

The CES echoes the comments of Ed Boyle and wishes everyone a peaceful Summer break.