Success Stories
Rachel
My experience with Polaris was an extremely positive one. The cohort was a great size in that I was able to socialise and make friends but it was small enough that you felt very known and supported by the tutors.
All our hub days were hands-on and interactive and I came away knowing I had learned something immediately or would need to call upon later down the line. When it came to securing a job, this was something I felt really nervous about but Polaris put in so many levels of support with this that I was extremely well prepared, so much I secured a job on my first interview. within the Polaris teaching alliance where I have now been teaching for the past 4 years.
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The Polaris teaching programme doesn't just teach you how to be a good teacher, it teaches you how to be a professional and how to support other new teachers within the profession.
Lucy
I trained in Lower Primary Teaching with Polaris and had a truly wonderful experience. The training sessions were fun, engaging, and tailored to your specific age range. Polaris fully prepare you to enter the world of teaching. The training year is carefully crafted to track, develop and challenge you. But most importantly, what Polaris do best is support you.
My mentor was incredible, and I could not have felt more supported by the entire team. I felt genuinely cared for and was helped through every high and low that comes with teacher training. I felt so grateful to have such a personal, encouraging, and positive teacher training experience. I could not recommend Polaris more !
Tom
I am a Year 6 teacher with four years of experience, and my time at Polaris has played a crucial role in shaping my teaching career. The course was immersive, hands-on and incredibly supportive, providing me with the confidence and skills needed to succeed in school. The motors were also a fantastic help - always available to offer guidance, encouragement, and practical advice, making the transition from trainee to teacher feel seamless.
Charlotte
From my first training session at Polaris, I knew I had made the right choice. Not only was the team welcoming, they were full of knowledge and I gained plenty of ideas for my full-time teaching post.
Choosing a "school direct" way into teaching ensured I gained the experience I needed as well as the support from a wide range of professionals. I currently teach at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary Northallerton, one of the many fantastic Nicholas Postgate schools.
I wouldn't be where I am today without the help of the staff at Polaris, especially Chris who gave me so much inspiration.
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Ben
Ben is part of the 2021/2022 cohort currently training with Polaris. Here Ben explains how he is finding the course and why he decided to train with Polaris.
Ellie
Ellie is a Polaris TSA trainee. Here, Ellie explains how the Polaris programme has stood out for her.
Emily
Emily is another of our Polaris TSA trainees. Here, she tells us of her own Polaris experience.
Further Testimonials
“As soon as I went to my first training day at Polaris, I knew I had made the right decision about where I completed my teacher training. What drew me to Polaris was the wrap-around support that I saw the previous students getting, from mentors to the course leaders. This (matched with the team’s relationships with the local schools) meant that I felt I would have the best experience at my placements, as both the school and the alliance were immediately supportive. The Polaris team are brilliant at answering questions and queries and helping you with any issues that may arise. The combination of training days at Polaris and YSJ University has already given me so much useful information that I have been able to apply to my placements. I love the School Centered route as I was able to get stuck in straight away at school and really build those relationships and skills from day 1. Being in a smaller cohort has also allowed me to get to know my peers, which is nice having people to talk to at the end of a day who are in the same position and friends in a group chat to answer any questions!
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Further Testimonials
“I am delighted that I have been through the School Centered ITT programme. The help and support I received from the moment I started my PGCE year was outstanding. The course was interesting and well run with a great combination of the practical and theoretical. I chose this route because I wanted a schools-based approach where I could immediately apply the new skills that I had learned. Being with teachers who were passionate about their role meant I was able to learn a range of skills and techniques to use in my own classroom. I was delighted when I finished my PGCE year to find employment in one of my placement schools. I feel I was able to quickly adapt to the demands of my NQT year because I already understood many of the systems in place.”
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“The great thing about having a School Centered trainee is that we are deeply involved in all aspects of their training. They are ‘one of ours’ from the outset and we can develop and shape them in line with our school practices and ethos. I have a previous trainee teaching in my school who has just finished mentoring one of our current cohort of trainees. It’s very satisfying to see the whole thing come full circle.”