Welcome to London!

This week has been a whirlwind. I woke up on Friday to an email from Teach First entitled "Welcome to London" - WHAT!? After hurriedly reading the email, my heart pumping so fast I was actually a bit breathless, it was clear that it was true - I had been re-assigned from the West Midlands to LAANDAN! Before some smart arse pipes up with a comment about how i'm being shifted from pillar to post because no one wants me- shush. The reason for the change is that Teach First Primary has really taken off in London, and the rest of the country are still cautiously catching up - therefore, there are simply many more primary schools in London that the rest of the country.

THEN. I was sat at my desk yesterday, doing some revision and my phone rang, I recognised the number as Teach First and assumed it must be the "Welcome to London" follow up call, which it was. After making sure I was happy about my re-allocation, I was told I had been placed in a school!! What is it they say about buses!? What is shocking is that the school is very close to home! In the space of a week i've gone from having to move to Birmingham, to potentially moving back in with Ma and Pa! A perfect money saving opportunity, I have friends, family and even teacher contacts at home - my life seems to have be chewed up and spat back out again! (I still think Ma might have bribed Teach First!!)   

The school itself looks great, with an Outstanding Ofsted report, it looks like the perfect environment for me to begin my teacher training! The school is described as: an urban, multi-ethnic primary school situated in a large estate of mixed housing in an area of high deprivation. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals and those with learning difficulties and disabilities is higher than that found nationally. The percentage from ethnic minority groups and those whose first language is not English has increased over the last 4 years and is very high. - This is very typical of a Teach First school.

So what does this all mean?

1. I won't be getting my PGCE from Warwick anymore, but from the Institute of Education in London.

2. Instead of living in Birmingham for 4 weeks in the summer, i'll be living in CAMDEN!

3. My hopes of having a fully furnished flat, with a drive way, for £500 a month is nothing more than a pipe dream.

4. With all the money I save I can still buy a Fiat 500 :)

So all in all, not much will change, but after psyching myself up make the big move to Brum, I need only worry about the actual teaching bit :S I can't wait until all this degree stuff is over and I can really focus on my teaching!!!!

Now just got to make sure I get that 2:1 :-)

**I'm hoping to continue this blog as I start teaching, but I have purposely not revealed the name of the school, nor will I reveal any names of staff or pupils.