The Transition from Student Teacher to Newly Qualified Teacher: some findings

Abstract

A questionnaire was given to 49 newly qualified teachers (NQTs) at the end of their first term of teaching to assess their perceptions of their preparation for teaching and their experiences during the first term of teaching. Results showed that a number of aspects of teaching were identified by these NQTs as those which they did and did not feel well prepared for, were concerned about, both before they started their first teaching post and at the end of their first term of teaching, and/or which they felt could be covered in greater detail on their initial teacher training (ITT) course to better prepare them for their first teaching post. Overall, the results suggested that the combination of aspects of teaching identified by any one NQT were unique to that individual and resulted from a combination of personal and situational factors. Results also showed a range of different methods of support provided by schools to help NQTs during the first year of teaching. In addition, NQTs identified a number of other support mechanisms they would like as well as a range of ways of coping which they used. These results are discussed in relation to ITT, the first year of teaching and continuing professional development