Careers at Fairlands
Jessie Mclean, our Career Pathways Leader, is responsible for coordinating and supporting all aspects of our career development and work experience programmes, with a particular focus on inspiring and guiding individuals who are taking their first steps towards a career in teaching, and supporting those at the early stages of their career in other roles.
She works closely with staff, students and trainees to provide meaningful school-based experiences that help them develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to progress within the education sector. Primarily, this includes supporting work experience placements, teaching assistants in training, and aspiring teachers as they explore their pathways into education.
But we are also proud to be a school that nurtures the next generation of teachers. We provide a rich and supportive environment for aspiring professionals at every stage of their teacher training journey — from their very first placement through to becoming confident, independent practitioners; great teachers; and future leaders in education.
To find out more, please email jessica.mclean@fairlands.herts.sch.uk for further details about the career opportunities we provide.
Current Vacancies
Sorry, there are no current vacancies.
Work Shadowing
Work shadowing at a school is an opportunity for an individual — often a student, trainee, or someone interested in a career in education — to observe and experience the day-to-day role of school staff in a real working environment.
Work Experience
Work experience at schools provides students and aspiring educators with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a classroom setting, develop practical skills, and understand the day-to-day responsibilities of teaching and school life.
Students (BEd1, BEd2, BEd3, PGCE, T-Level)
We work in partnership with universities to host Bachelor of Education (BEd) students in all three years of their training:
- BEd1 students are introduced to classroom life and begin developing their understanding of effective teaching and learning through observation, small group work, and supported lesson delivery.
- BEd2 students build on this by taking more responsibility for planning and teaching sequences of lessons, deepening their understanding of assessment, differentiation, and behaviour management.
- BEd3 students take on the role of a class teacher for extended periods, refining their practice and demonstrating readiness to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Throughout each stage, students receive regular feedback, professional mentoring, and opportunities to reflect on their progress.
In addition, we support PGCE trainees by providing high-quality school-based placements where they can apply their university learning in a real classroom setting, develop their teaching practice with the guidance of experienced mentors, and build the skills and confidence needed to achieve Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Finally, a 2nd-year T-Level student is a learner in the final year of a two-year T-Level programme, which is a technical qualification in England equivalent to three A-levels.
Early Years Educators
The Level 3 Early Years Educator (EYE) course is a professional qualification for people who want to work with young children (typically from birth to 5 years old) in early years settings such as nurseries, preschools, and reception classes.
It is a nationally recognised qualification in England and is often required for those wishing to become qualified practitioners within early years.
It is 18 months long and requires 425 OFJ (off the job) hours including home visits, team meetings, stay and play, staff meeting, parents evening, 30 mins set up daily, INSET days.
Every month practitioners complete an enrichment activity, workbook and they are observed.
Early Careers Teachers (ECTs)
An ECT stands for Early Career Teacher — this is the term used in England to describe a newly qualified teacher in their first two years of teaching after gaining Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
All of our ECTs are allocated a Mentor, who is an experienced teacher:
- Supports the ECT personally and professionally.
- Guides them through the Early Career Framework.
- Develops their classroom practice and confidence.
- Encourages reflection and growth as a lifelong learner.
The mentoring is also overseen by a Professional Lead
- Sit in on at least one mentor training weekly development meeting per term
- Review weekly records
- Conduct lesson observations and review post lesson mentor feedback
- Complete a quality assurance activity
Teaching at Fairlands
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Leadership at Fairlands
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Support staff
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