A Week in the Life of a Student Teacher
(2)_1000.png "A Week in the Life of a Student Teacher")
A Week in the Life of a Student Teacher
If you’re considering the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship route into teaching, you might be wondering:…
“What does a typical week actually involve?”
Meet Laura. She’s currently completing the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship, specialising in secondary maths and teaching students aged 11 to 16.
Before stepping into the classroom as a student teacher, Laura worked as a Learning Tutor in the alternative provision at her current school. There, she gained valuable experience supporting pupils across a range of subjects, but it was in the maths classroom that she discovered her passion for teaching.
Here’s how her week is structured:
.png)
Learning in the classroom: Monday to Thursday
Laura spends Monday to Thursday in her placement school, fully immersed in the life of a teacher. She began by observing expert colleagues, learning effective strategies and classroom routines, before gradually starting to lead lessons herself.
Each morning begins with tutor time, followed by maths lessons across Years 7 to 11. From teaching Pythagoras’ Theorem to preparing students for GCSE exams, Laura is steadily gaining confidence and building her teaching expertise.
Her week also includes planning time, CPD sessions and regular check-ins with her mentor. Weekly observations and personalised feedback help support her growth and development.
She’s an active member of the maths department, attends staff meetings and connects with Early Career Teachers to share strategies and reflect on practice.
Friday: Expert-led training
Fridays are dedicated to online learning. Laura joins live webinars on behaviour management, teaching strategies and subject-specific pedagogy.
Some weeks include guest speakers or small group discussions with other student teachers across the country. Each session is carefully designed to feed directly into her classroom practice.
ℹ️ Depending on your location, you may have the opportunity to attend Face-to-Face training days instead.
Monthly: Core training days
Once a month, Laura takes part in a core training day, delivered online. Each session focuses on a key teaching theme such as inclusion, assessment or curriculum planning.
These interactive, full-day events offer opportunities to connect with peers, reflect on progress and gain insight from experienced tutors.
To support work–life balance, sessions typically start around 10:00am and finish by 3:00pm, making them easier to fit around school drop-offs or pick-ups.
Over 12 months, Laura is transforming her school-based experience into a full teaching qualification — without stepping away from the job she already loves.
Interested? Start Your Teaching Career Here
If you would like any more information, get in contact with us:
Email: teach@bestpracticenet.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 117 920 9200 (8.30am-5.30pm, Mon-Fri)