Name Mollie Andrews (Formely Allen)

In what year did you train? 2020/2021 (started 2019/2020 but deferred!)

Which subject did you train in? Drama

Which school/s did you train in? Chelmer Valley & Hylands

Can you tell us a bit about what you are doing now? After finishing my training I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the profession as of yet, I wanted to see education outside of Covid. So I worked as an LSA atThriftwood college for a year before going in to working as a special education teacher for 2 years in SLD (severe learning difficulties) settings at Harlow FieldsSchool and College & Columbus School and College. It was a brilliant experience. I fondly remember my first class in Harlow were so full of life; we’d regularly enjoy sensory experiences and visits from specialists such as The Laughter Specialists. It was the most rewarding experience working with SLD classes! I then left the profession in July 2024 after a challenging period of health. As we speak I am currently starting a new role working as a Keyworker for Children andYoung People with Austism and Learning Difficulties. I will be supporting young people and their families to navigate the system and get the support they need in place.

Thinking back to your teacher training with Mid Essex ITT, can you share with us about a highlight, fond memory or funny story? Due to Covid & restrictions the cohort didn’t get to meet in person until June of 2021 when we went on the zoo trip! It was nice to actually put names to faces in person. We also then had a celebration in person & socially distance at Notley Country Park. It was so strange having spent the whole year on teamsand when we didn’t met social distancing and masks were all still a thing (what a time!!) it still feels strange we only ever were together as a group twice!!

What was teacher training like when you trained? What were the buzzwords, latest theories or popular pedagogy? Miss you’re muted’
‘Can you hear me now?’
‘I’m just going to share my screen’
When I say these were mentioned once a day, they quite literally were 😂 When I trained Covid was in the midst of coming out of lockdown one, only to follow with two more. It was such a strange time to be training when classes were closed or in ‘bubbles’. It meant a lot of time not being in a Drama studio and because of it I only taught my first lessons in Drama studio in late May of 2021 due to the restrictions in school. I remember fondly taking a Year 7 classof my one of my mentors (Jo at CVHS) into the drama studio for the first time. There excitement for it was a picture ! To be able to get the students back in tothe drama studios after over a year was amazing !

Thinking back to your teacher training, what was your key takeaway from Mid Essex ITT? If you can train to be a Drama teacher on teams during 2 lockdowns - you can do anything !
Honestly though; it was very much being able to adapt to a whole new level of different. Teaching is forever changing and being able to adapt was the biggest thing it taught me. Especially when I became a special education teacher - it taught me to think fast and more often than not if it meant taking the lesson outside and the kids learnt just as much if not more!

Thinking back to your teacher training, is there anyone who supported you whom you would like to recognise or thank? Holly Sutton: She was my course tutor & was always on the phone, teams call or an email if things were too much or when they were at there best too!
My husband….it sounds silly but when we met during my initial plan to be a teacher in 2019. We bonded most over our passion for teaching and actually both trained through MEITT before getting married in 2023!
Jo Howse (CVHS): She was my drama teacher when I was in school and the reason I ended up training as a Drama teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm for Drama was infectious. She became my mentor and subject lead alongside Josh G during my placement at Chelmer Valley.