Name Taylor Thurston

In what year did you train? 2015-2016

Which subject did you train in? Religious Studies

Which school/s did you train in? Brentwood County High A placement and Notley High B placement

Can you tell us a bit more about what you are doing now? Today I am an Assistant Headteacher at Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls in Havering. I’m responsible for staff development, raising standards indepartments I line manage, ITTECF lead, ensuring all trainee teachers have a successful placement and develop their practice alongside ensuring ECTs have all their entitlements. Advocating for mentors and the important role they have. I’ve worked with 17 ECTs and many more trainees in my leadership position and it’s been so lovely to give back in this way. I also work with Life Education Trust and have led on the Havering Festival of Education 2024 and 2025. I oversee lots of school events, day to day operations, coaching and delivery of the NPQLT. And of course my favourite part of the job, I still teach religious studies with the passion I had on day one! Teaching is still the best part of the day. Now I teach mainly RS GCSE and even Sociology A level. The job list is endless,sometimes the days are long but leadership is very rewarding.
I went into teaching straight from university at 21 and the 5 years before I was in leadership I very much soaked up the joys of teaching a full timetable. Some highlights in my career where in those first 5 years and include; results days and seeing the faces of all students hard work paying off, leading internationaltrips such as New York, being on a residential to Paris and skiing in Italy; cheering at every sporting event for the students in my form, being lucky to see my form through 5 years (some even 7 as they stayed on at sixth form!) I’m so proud of them! Developing my pedagogy through CPD and courses and experimenting in the classroom and the rewards of just simply being a good and consistent classroom teacher. My first 5 years were tiring but oh so fun.

Thinking back to your teacher training with Mid Essex ITT, can you share with us about a highlight, fond memory or funny story? I have too many fond memories of my training year to list them all. I think I was very lucky to have a group of supportive trainees and we formed a friendshipin that year that got us through every day. Even today, I think teacher friendships are needed and very powerful to bounce ideas off or simply have a much needed ear to listen. Your circle of support in teaching can really grow and nurture you professionally.

What was teacher training like when you trained? What were the buzzwords, latest theories or popular pedagogy? Kagan Seating plans!
Questioning … every type you can imagine hinge, Socratic, open, closed
Classic differentiation techniques - different colour paper!
Good old lesson objectives and the all, most, some approach (those days are gone!)

Thinking back to your teacher training, what was your key takeaway from Mid Essex ITT? So many! But one that stands out I remember Keith saying ‘Invest in relationships’, every child deserves a champion, one adult who believes in them. Children thrive through clear consistent routines and professional boundaries. Make learning relatable, make it stick and you’ll ensure they learn for life. I was also told to not climb too quick and to just become a consistently brilliant classroom teacher as that’s the superpower, once you've mastered that you can have a fulfilling career. And I really took that onboard in my first 5 years I just wanted to be a really good teacher first and foremost!

Thinking back to your teacher training, is there anyone who supported you whom you would like to recognise or thank? I really had a memorable training year that I truly believe set me on my career trajectory. I fondly remember Louise Mason my A placement mentor for her patience, guidance, creativity and mentorship. I believe my teaching was heavily shaped by Louise and I thank her for gifting me with this. I learned some true RS knowledge that stuck with me from my subject specialist mentor Kim White. She was a theology genius and her passion was contagious. Her feedbackwas invaluable on my teaching in those early days. The MEITT team at the time were so supportive in particular Keith who used to find the good in even abad lesson! His positivity was always appreciated and he simply believed in me.