Delivering NPQs with Northern Education Trust has been incredibly rewarding, particularly through the opportunity to share evidence-based research that provokes valuable and insightful reflection among leaders. The programmes create meaningful professional dialogue and encourage participants to think deeply about leadership practice and decision-making.
Facilitating these programmes has also contributed significantly to my own professional growth. I have found it especially rewarding to coach leaders working in a range of educational settings, including primary and post-16 contexts. Supporting participants to problem-solve, reflect, and evaluate leadership challenges has further developed my own coaching skills and strengthened my ability to guide reflective practice in others.
Being able to see the impact on participants and their schools has been wonderful. Many leaders grow noticeably in confidence throughout the programme, while also developing a stronger understanding of the strategic and operational aspects of school leadership. The realistic scenarios and data-focused tasks help participants engage with authentic leadership challenges and consider how effective leadership can be applied within their own settings.
I would strongly encourage colleagues considering involvement in NPQ delivery with NET to take the opportunity. School leaders make thousands of decisions every day, and often our reasoning becomes instinctive — we simply know what feels like the right thing to do. Delivering NPQs gives you the chance to slow down that thinking process, reflect alongside other leaders, and articulate the reasoning behind effective leadership decisions. It enables you to model critical thinking, encourage deeper consideration, and support others in navigating the fast-paced and dynamic terrain of educational leadership.
Being Vice Principal DEEP Learning is the best job in the academy. Teaching is a brilliant job because you get to gift children your knowledge and you lose nothing in giving that knowledge away. In fact, you gain from it. It is the same with leading a team of staff. Being able to support staff to be the best they can be in the classroom. so they can gift their knowledge to hundreds of children in our academy is a privilege.
Training with NET has been an absolute pleasure, and I could not have asked for a more holistic and revealing way to engage in teacher training. Being in the classroom from week one, and being placed in two different but brilliant schools, has allowed for my practice to grow quickly and deploy effective pedagogy immediately. I have been supported, and pushed by two exemplary mentors who are both excellent teachers, but know exactly what I needed to continue making progress throughout the year. By learning and using NET routines, teaching and learning strategies, and being a part of a wider community of schools has allowed my practice to be grounded in systems that work and help the students that I have taught get the outcomes that they deserve. I am excited to start my ECT with NET in September, and I have been greatly supported during the interview process, whilst preparing me for life as a classroom teacher. If you are thinking of making the decision to train, do it. And do it with NET. You will progress, and learn what it means to teach in schools where children are really at the centre of everything that you do. I cannot think of a more rewarding day job, and I cannot think of a better taster of how good the job can be by training with NET.
As an Assistant Principal within DEEP Learning I am privileged to lead on curriculum developments with staff and students across the academy. Supporting staff to develop engaging learning experiences that enable students to maximise their potential gives me the greatest sense of pride.
Working with ECTs and trainees within the academy has allowed me to focus solely on teaching and learning and developing curriculum and pedagogy, taking calculated risks in my practice and encouraging those entering the beginning of their teaching careers to be brave and bold and devise learning experiences that inspire and foster a sense of excellence.
As a mentor to ECTs and Trainees, it has been wonderful to see the progression within the academy and Trust that our teachers have made within their careers too. With on-going development opportunities beyond the ECT framework, many have become leaders within the academy, ensuring that they are inspiring the next wave of new talent to come through.
Being a leader in DEEP Learning never stops being exciting, as we are forever innovating our own practices and considering how to enable staff and student excellence. This is never daunting, as we are the Trust and therefore everything we do is mirrored across all academies, meaning that there is a team of colleagues all supporting one another to implement all future developments.
I have had a wide and varied journey to date, working outside of education and in. I have held pastoral roles and led a department before progressing to the academy senior leadership team.
A few years ago, I would never have imagined myself standing in front of a class as a teacher. I began my journey as a science technician, supporting learning from behind the scenes. Without realising it at the time, I was already developing the skills that would later shape me as a teacher — communication, problem-solving, resilience, and building positive relationships with students. Over time, I began to see how those skills could make a real difference in the classroom.
The apprenticeship route into teaching gave me the opportunity to train whilst working, allowing me to gain hands-on classroom experience whilst continually developing my teaching practice.
To say the journey has been easy would be far from the truth. I constantly doubted myself and questioned whether I was knowledgeable, confident, or capable enough to teach. Even during mentor meetings where I received positive feedback, I still struggled to believe that I truly belonged in the profession.
However, the apprenticeship route gave me something invaluable: the chance to learn, improve, and grow. Mistakes became learning opportunities, challenges became stepping stones, and slowly, I began to build confidence — not only in myself as a teacher, but in myself as a person.
Now, as an ECT1, there are still difficult days and moments of self-doubt, but when I look back at how far I have come, I feel incredibly proud. The moments that stay with me most are often the smallest ones — students stopping me outside the classroom to show me work they are proud of or even being offered sweets at the end of a tough day. Those moments remind me why I took this path in the first place.
I know there are other people working in schools who may be afraid to take that first step into teaching because they do not see themselves as ‘teacher material’. I felt exactly the same. But caring deeply about young people and wanting to make a difference are where great teachers begin. Sometimes, all it takes is taking that first step before you truly believe in yourself.
My training year with NET has been one of the most challenging but equally rewarding years of my life. The ITT programme provided me with the opportunity to grow from my role as a Cover Supervisor into a qualified teacher, securing a full time teaching position at a school within the Trust by the end of my training year. The mentors and support team were invaluable throughout and their guidance, kindness, and encouragement curated a learning environment that supported all trainees and allowed me to feel a sense of belonging from the first day. NET training is an extension of the wonderful culture created throughout every school within the Trust and it has been a privilege to experience this first hand and begin my teaching career in such a supportive, progressive, and welcoming environment. I couldn’t recommend it more.
I have been involved with the Northern Education Trust for just under three years. In my time working for the trust, I have grown as a practitioner. Starting off as a teaching assistant and helping students with SEN access the curriculum at Thorp, I then ventured into the world of teaching. Training with the trust was a delight as I gained some great skills whilst being supported by a great team around me. Now, as an ECT for 10 months, I couldn’t be happier to be part of a fantastic science department in Walbottle Academy.
Training with Northern Education Trust was a rewarding experience that seamlessly shaped me into the educator I am today. From day one, the trust’s “Outcomes Focused, Child Centred” philosophy provided a clear sense of purpose, while the exceptional mentorship and evidence-based professional development gave me the practical tools and confidence to thrive in the classroom. Completing the training via the apprenticeship route was the perfect choice for me, as it allowed me to progress from my previous role as a science technician, gaining invaluable, hands-on classroom experience from day one while being fully supported. NET genuinely invested in my long-term career and well-being, making the transition to my current role incredibly smooth. To anyone considering teacher training, I highly recommend NET. You will be challenged, deeply supported, and fully prepared to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people from the moment you begin.
My experience with NET through my teacher training has been rewarding and positive, the training was well structured, engaging and provided strategies that I can apply within a classroom. The biggest strength of the course has been the support that has been given from Richard and Meriem as it is outstanding, they have made this year memorable and helped not only myself but everyone on the course, they are a massive credit to NET Inspire. The course has had a significant impact on my professional development, equipping me with valuable tools and techniques that will enhance my teaching practice. I would highly recommend NET to anyone looking to develop their skills and start their teaching journey with.
This last year has been absolutely amazing. I must say training with NET has enabled me to overcome the greatest uncertainty around my teaching career in the UK, considering that I had just relocated to the UK a year before the start of the training. The combined training experiences have provided me with a strong foundation for my teaching career by enabling me to connect educational theory with classroom practice. The breadth and quality of the training have played a significant role in shaping my professional identity and preparing me to make a positive and lasting impact on my students. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to my mentors. They have been fantastic and offered me some valuable learning opportunities that have challenged me and encouraged my practice.
Training within Northern Education Trust has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. By working with exceptional, experienced teachers I have vastly developed my understanding of pedagogy. Teaching a STEM subject, as a young female, within schools in working class areas, has been challenging yet extremely rewarding. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to inspire young children and help them to get the best out of their education.