9 March 2020
With exams approaching, SecEd's NQT diarist has more on his plate than ever, but is still finding the time to attend important CPD opportunities...
3 February 2020
The NQT year is half-way through and thoughts are now turning to examination preparation...
15 January 2020
With term one under his belt, our NQT diarist is determined to draw on his colleagues' support to improve his practice during the spring term...
9 October 2019
The first weeks of the autumn term has thrown up a number of challenges for our NQT diarist, but slowly and surely he is settling into life at the chalkface...
11 September 2019
A new year and a new NQT takes the helm of SecEd's Diary of an NQT. Every month they will be discussing their successes, challenges, highs and lows on the NQT rollercoaster...
9 July 2019
As the end of the academic year approaches, it is sinking in that my NQT year is almost done and dusted. I cannot quite believe that this is my last NQT diary entry.
5 June 2019
This year’s SecEd NQT diarist is a teacher of English from a school in the Midlands. Here she reflects on her first year at the chalkface – the challenges, successes and hopes for year 2
8 May 2019
Having finally found some time to observe some of her colleagues' lessons, our NQT diarist recommends that all new teachers choose a focus and head out into the school to see other teachers' practice
3 April 2019
Away from the pressure of examinations, teaching key stage 3 is liberating and allows our NQT diarist to push the boundaries of her teaching
13 March 2019
With exams on the horizon, the pressure to run extra sessions and interventions is mounting, but our NQT diarist is making sure to protect her work/life balance
6 March 2019
Exhausted and facing a pile of marking to catch up on, our NQT diarist is back from her first ever residential trip – and doesn’t regret taking it on for a moment
27 February 2019
Ahead of her first residential trip, our NQT diarist reflects on the challenges she will face spending a week abroad with a group of students
6 February 2019
External competitions and challenges can be a great way to engage students and promote your subject, as our NQT diarist hopes to find out
30 January 2019
With so much marking and other work on her plate, our NQT diarist sought out some quick homework tasks to ease her workload...
23 January 2019
Asked to lead a cross-school CPD discussion on systems of assessment, our NQT diarist worries about whether she is qualified enough to take on the task…
16 January 2019
The pile of mocks to mark is looming large, but our NQT diarist is determined that these exams will play a vital role in informing her teaching this term
9 January 2019
Asked to take on the planning of a scheme of work for her department, our NQT diarist has revelled in the experience and now awaits her colleagues’ verdict...
5 December 2018
Our NQT diarist’s first parents’ evening is looming and she is hoping for some positive – yet constructive – conversations about her year 10 students
28 November 2018
Last year’s SecEd NQT diarist is now in his second year at the chalkface. We asked him to offer his advice to this year’s NQT cohort as the end of term one approaches
28 November 2018
SecEd’s NQT diarist writes every week detailing the trials and tribulations from her first year at the chalkface. Here, she looks back on her first term at the successes, failures and lessons ...
21 November 2018
It is time to compile the termly reports for parents and our NQT diarist is set on being honest and constructive in her feedback
14 November 2018
A recent experience has opened our NQT diarist’s eyes to those quieter students in her classes who might be slipping under the radar...
7 November 2018
Desperate to reduce her marking workload, our NQT diarist realises she has overlooked a simple solution – marking codes and comment banks
17 October 2018
Our NQT diarist’s long-awaited first formal observation has happened, leaving her exhausted and with an unexpected outcome…
10 October 2018
As her first formal observation approaches, our NQT diarist is searching for a development area on which to focus in her lesson