Greater Peterborough UTC (GPUTC) joined CMAT in 2021. We caught up with Hanicka Hall-Howitt who works at GPUTC as a trainee teacher, where she will become a teacher of expeditionary learning with a focus on science.
Can you tell us about your background in education?
I have been working in schools for nearly four years now. During my last year of university, I started working for an agency in the Bedfordshire area called Choice Teachers. Through this, I worked as a Cover Supervisor across a range of nursery, primary, secondary and SEND schools.
I enjoyed this experience so much that after finishing my degree in Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, I worked as a cover supervisor at Chancellor’s School in Hertfordshire for 6 months before securing a role at Hampton Gardens secondary school where I worked for nearly two years.
This encouraged me to embark on my teaching career and apply for a teacher training course, leading me to be accepted onto Teach East, where I was offered a placement at GPUTC.
What’s it like being part of the CMAT family?
When I was a student, I attended a CMAT school myself, having gone to Sawtry Community College, now known as Sawtry Village Academy, so was already aware of CMAT and the support they provide to students.
Now going from a student to a teacher working for a CMAT school, I have been able to experience first-hand more of the great things they have to offer.
Personally, I feel that CMAT as a Trust has been really supportive of their staff. You can see how they take care of members across all the schools, by making you feel valued and listened to. This is crucial to a trainee teacher, as it helps welcome you to the role and also keep the retention of staff.
Although I only joined GPUTC in September 2021, not long after the school joined CMAT, I have already had such a positive experience and am sure I will be seeing even more support from them as my career develops.
How has working for CMAT provided you with opportunities (including training or CPD) or links you might otherwise not have made?
Since starting my role, I have been provided with regular science CPD sessions. For example, we had an inset day, where lots of CPD sessions were running at once for science teachers from across CMAT’s schools. I found them really useful and insightful, particularly as a trainee teacher that’s going to be transitioning into an Early Career Teachers (ECT) role, I think having CPD there is extremely important for me to be able to develop myself and grow into my role. The opportunities on offer are very much appreciated.
It has also been great to meet colleagues across the schools, making it feel like one big family. Everyone has different methods of teaching, so to be able to collaborate, share best practices and resources, whilst then being able to adapt my own teaching based on what I have seen has been brilliant and something you might not get to experience elsewhere.
What do you enjoy most about your job and/or working for CMAT?
I was made to feel welcome from the get-go. The Principal, David Bisley has not only checked in on me regularly but made me feel part of the team since we had our first meeting in August before starting my placement in September.
When I compare the support I have received at GPUTC, compared to the support I know others on my training course received at other schools, I just know how lucky I was to be given a placement at this school.
I also love the STEM way of learning and that GPUTC places STEM, Design and Architecture at its heart, which I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Science is more important than ever now, and being a specialist in biology myself, I could not have asked for a better school to work at.
What is your favourite memory or funniest moment working for CMAT?
When I was teaching my Year 9s the digestion system. We had a practical demonstration using tights, crushed up food and liquids, where I had to push the food through the tights. You can only imagine how disgusting that was for me and for them. The worst part was that I had to do the practical for three different Year 9 classes, with one of the classes being just before their lunchtime – seeing the looks on their faces was priceless!
Outside of your job, what interests do you have?
I have a very keen interest in sports. For four years I played hockey for my university’s team and enjoy horse riding, which I’m eager to get back into. As the school and my career grows, I hope to be able to collaborate on my passion for both biology and physical education, with the hope to teach science and PE in the future.