Meet Our NQTs

My experience as an NQT at Kents Hill Park school was fantastic. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive mentor and group of colleagues around me. The experienced teachers in the school made me feel very welcome. I never once felt like an ‘NQT’, I felt valued by all members of staff and pupils, which made waking up for ‘work’ not feel like work at all. I was given and still consistently receive great advice and feedback from my colleagues which has allowed me to grow in confidence as a teacher. In addition to this, the all-through nature of KHP allowed me to develop skills I did not even know I had and wouldn’t have been able to develop elsewhere. Having the opportunity to work with the both the primary and secondary phase has provided me with a greater understanding of the curriculum across the school and also the development of pupils through different age/year groups.

The pupils are a massive reflection of the hard work and enthusiasm of their teachers. They are extremely polite, well-mannered and respectful individuals which makes the working environment such a great place to be. Both in the primary and secondary phase the pupils are confident, hardworking and love a challenge. This is reflected in the number of pupils that attend extra-curricular clubs across all subjects.

The staff at Kents Hill Park school are enthusiastic, friendly and thrive to make Kents Hill Park the best and politest school in Milton Keynes.

I have had the opportunity to observe every single member of staff in their own teaching environment which has been fantastic for my own personal development. I have also had continued support from specialist teachers, offering to help team-teach content and give me their own perspective and ideas which has helped me to further develop my skills and knowledge as a teacher. I have been fully supported in everything I have done so far at Kents Hill Park, both as an NQT and as a fully qualified teacher.

Kents Hill Park school has been a fantastic place to start my teaching career. It isn’t just a ‘school’, it is a community where mutual respect and positive attitudes to learning are at the core. The schools drive to instil confidence, independence and forward-thinking characteristics, not only in its pupils but also in its staff, is reflected every day, in every classroom and every lesson. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work is such a fantastic school. I would highly recommend Kents Hill Park to all NQT’s.

I am currently an English NQT at Kents Hill Park School and making the decision to start my NQT training at this school, was the best decision I have made! I was extremely nervous about starting my NQT year and teaching in a new school. But within a couple of days, those nerves had vanished, as I was welcomed by a supportive and friendly Head of Department and English team. As you can imagine, I had a lot of questions about the English curriculum, my new classes, and the school routine. My Head of Department and the English team always made time to answer my questions, no matter how many there were, and gave me explanations that made me feel comfortable and confident.

What is so wonderful about Kents Hill Park is when you move around the school get this feeling of community from the staff and the students. The staff are all so friendly, welcoming and they would start a conversation with you. This was so comforting for me, as it made me feel like I was one of the team and I could ask anybody for help. The Senior Leadership Team are always around and are so friendly and approachable. Students are polite, well-mannered, and generally have a wonderful attitude to learning. Finally, and most importantly, there is this true feeling that the SLT & staff care. The teachers are committed to teaching the students to a high standard, ensuring inclusion and the welfare of the students. In addition, they also truly care about the welfare and wellbeing of the staff and the education and continuing professional development of staff.

Kents Hill Park School has allowed me to really explore my teaching methods and gain experience with developing a curriculum. While being at the school I have been given lots of opportunities to observe other staff and watching their teaching, which has really helped develop my own teaching. I have participated in a really helpful whole school CPD, year group meetings and whole school meetings. In addition, I have regular meetings with the English department and my mentor, and they have supported me as well as challenged me which is fantastic. From this, I have planned schemes of work, planned a wide variety of lessons ensuring challenge, created assessments and booklets for the department. I was also given the privilege of planning the Kents Hill Park World Virtual World Book Day, which I loved! It allowed me to really think outside the box and be creative. Before Kents Hill Park I had only used the AQA English Language & Literature GCSE Exams. As Kents Hill Park use a different exam board they have supported me and help me gain an understanding of the Exam board by organising CPD, sending me resources and regularly giving help and training, which has been so reassuring.

I feel lucky and honoured to be an NQT at this wonderful growing school. I had heard many horror stories about NQT years and it being a difficult & horrible year for many teachers, but that has really not been the case for me at Kents Hill Park. Everyone is considerate of the fact that you are new to the school and you’re an NQT; staff are conscious of each other’s wellbeing and you can ask anybody a question and never feel like you are bothering them. Kents Hill Park has allowed me to develop my subject knowledge and teaching practise, given me fair and helpful feedback in my observation, supported me and listened to me and they have helped me build my confidence. It has been a fantastic NQT year, I now can’t wait to start my RQT year at Kents Hill Park.

As a new teacher, I was thrilled to get a job in a brand new school like Kents Hill Park. At the time, I hadn’t even finished my training and still had a lot to work on! By the time I started at Kents Hill Park, I had finished my training mere days before. From the very first day at Kents Hill Park, I was made to feel welcome and like one of the team, and didn’t feel like I was being treated like the ‘newbie’ at all. You can go to some schools and feel untrusted due to being new to the teaching job, Kents Hill Park wasn’t like that.

I was also impressed by how well the kids at Kents Hill Park reacted to a new teacher coming into the team two weeks before the end of term. Every single child reacted to it well and took it in their stride. This made me feel very comfortable and showed me just how well the kids are taught to react to visitors and new people around the building, really showing off the values and manners that are imbedded into everything that is taught at the school.

In terms of my NQT year, I was made to feel safe. My mentor was very approachable and easy to work with and I also knew that if I needed anything from the head, I was able to access that very easily too. The rest of the staff were also very accommodating for my needs as an NQT, allowing me to walk into their classroom at any time with no notice, and answering my questions or giving me pointers that they felt might help my own specific needs and targets.

Finally I was impressed by the community that is upheld in the school. Every single member of staff whether that be teacher, SLT, support staff or site team are amazingly friendly and supportive and that also translates to the pupils. Every child is polite and well-mannered and work together with the staff in a way that I have never seen before at any other school.

Overall, Kents Hill Park is a great school to work at, whether you have been teaching for twenty years or you have just passed your training. Everyone is still learning and developing and that is a wonderful help to someone who has just begun their career.