We caught up with United Teaching graduate and Maths Scholar Matt about his training experience and how he benefitted from receiving a Maths teacher training scholarship.

“I am currently in my initial teacher training year at Sheffield Park Academy, the same school that I attended as a pupil from Year 7 to Year 13. Because of my own positive school experience, I always wanted to teach in a United Learning school.”

On what inspired him to become a teacher, Matt said: “The teachers I had at school inspired me to train to teach. It wasn’t my initial career path, but seeing what my teachers did for me made me sure I was going to enjoy it. My dance and drama teachers weren’t the teachers I would see the most in school, and yet they had the biggest impact on me both in and out of the classroom. I wanted to have that same impact on someone else.”

Matt trained to teach Maths on the self-funded route. He said: “I specifically chose this route as I knew there was a bursary or scholarship available. The scholarship application and interview processes were straightforward. Taking place mostly online, I talked about a mathematician who inspired me, gave my reasoning for wanting to teach Maths, and conducted a model lesson.”

A teacher training scholarship comes with many benefits. Matt said: “The scholarship provided extra CPD and opportunities to network with other trainees that I wouldn’t otherwise have had access to. Some CPD sessions are conveniently held online via Zoom, and they’ve been great.”

Matt gave some great advice for anyone applying for a teacher training scholarship, saying: “Go in with the same enthusiasm as you would for a job interview. It’s not extra pressure – the Institute of Maths want you to succeed and are there to help and support trainee teachers.”