One last hurdle to become a teacher

To make my long story short, I have overcome many health and educational obstacles over the last 6 years with the hope to become a Qualified Teacher. Due to unforeseen circumstances I now have four weeks to raise £3600 in order to complete the last stage of my teacher training. If you want to know more and have a spare minute ... or 10 you can read the full story below. Please donate if you can, it will mean the world to me. 

For as long as I can remember I have dreamt of becoming a teacher.  For many people, this dream is straightforward to achieve. However, due to my ill health and various unforeseen circumstances, I am still yet to achieve my dream! 

I began my journey to becoming a teacher when I moved to Manchester where I studied for my Early Years and Childhood Studies Degree. Although it took me 4 years to complete my course due to my Cystic Fibrosis I was able to obtain a first class degree.

Following my degree, I continued to pursue a career in teaching and was accepted onto a PGCE course, which would enable me to become a Qualified Teacher.  The format of this course was to work full time in a school and to complete coursework on top of this, during this time I was working and studying for 60+ hours a week and was beginning to find it difficult to keep on top of my treatments for my CF. After 6 months struggling with lack of support from my placement school and low energy levels, with advice from specialist doctors who monitor my condition, I reluctantly asked the course leaders if it was at all possible to change to a part-time post. The course leaders agreed and changed the course format for me to become part-time and for the course to take two years to complete.  I was then moved to a new placement school as my mentor at my previous school had gone on sick leave and my progress had not been monitored correctly for months.  

At my new placement school, I was extremely happy, I was able to keep on top of my studied and my treatment for my CF. I felt that I had settled in well to the school and made progress with my new mentor supporting me. Unfortunately, a few weeks into my new school placement I suffered from a chest infection and was hospitalised for two weeks.

During my admission, I was seen by the CF specialists daily and they monitored my health in a variety of ways, observing my weight, appetite, lung function and exercise tolerance. Unlike previous hospital admissions, I was required to use Oxygen to walk. I was seen daily by physiotherapists who explained that using the Oxygen was a requirement but it would be closely monitored. 
While I was in hospital I was in continuous contact with the course leaders, I explained that to return to the course I would have to carry an Oxygen cylinder with me at all times.

After my hospital admission, I nervously returned to the course on a training day with all other PGCE students and the course leaders. On this day I sat in my car for over half an hour convincing myself to go in wearing my oxygen. The day went as smoothly as it could, with children staring, colleagues politely ignoring the tubes hanging out of my nose and explaining the situation to my friends on my course trying not to become upset.  Near the end of the day, I requested to talk to the course leader to explain that I was ready to go back to school and I would need a new risk assessment done as I now would be wearing my oxygen cylinder. The course leader was apprehensive of me returning to school and suggested that I took the rest of the week off and that she would sort out the new risk assessment ready for my return. I was reluctant to agree to this as I knew it would be hard to gather my courage for another 'first day', but I agreed. 

The following week I had a hospital appointment and the use of my oxygen was reviewed, as my chest infection had cleared I no longer needed oxygen for all walking and it was decided that I would not need it for school as I was no longer teaching physical education.  I immediately contacted the course leaders and sent a copy of a letter from the CF specialists reiterating what I had told them.  I didn't hear back from the course leader I had been in constant contact with but received an email from the course secretary explaining that I needed to go in for a meeting before moving forward with returning to school. I was eager to attend this meeting as I wanted to be back at school as soon as I could be, so tried to arrange the meeting for the next day, however, the course leaders were unavailable until the end of the week. At this point alarm bells should have begun to ring, however, being so focused on returning to work I happily accepted the meeting. 

The day of the meeting arrived I happily entered the training centre as I had done many times before but instead of being asked to wait in the main common room I was sat in a side room and asked to wait for the course leader. During this 'meeting', which I had naively presumed was a back to work meeting, the executive course leader in a roundabout way told me that she thought I would not be able to succeed on the course and that I should focus on my health and choose a career better suited to my needs. I felt completely useless and began to get very upset, she was taking away my dream of becoming a teacher, I didn't manage to say much during this meeting as I was so shocked, I did ask one final question at the end of the meeting "So am I definitely not going to be a teacher?" to which she replied "Definitely not". 

Following this meeting, I spoke with my family and friends and they were adamant that a course provider could not discriminate against me due to my Cystic Fibrosis. My confidence was gone, I didn't believe that I could be a teacher as the course leader obviously knew what she was talking about...didn't she? 
That weekend I began to look at other careers all working with children as this was still my passion but with fewer hours or less pressure. During this time I realised the only career path I wanted to follow was teaching. 

The following Monday I emailed and phoned the course leader and her secretary but was ignored. I was determined that I did not want to leave the course. 

The following week I received a letter from Student Finance England stating that I had been withdrawn from the course due to 'ill health'. I immediately contacted Student Finance and found out that the course leader had submitted this information without my permission. 

I contacted my teachers' union, which I had joined through as a trainee teacher, they were unable to help me as I was not yet a fully qualified teacher. I then contacted my university students union and I met with a union rep who said he would guide me through appealing the decision. However, he did not do this and was very unhelpful.  I felt that there was no one out there to help me, I felt disheartened and gave up trying to get back onto the course where I wasn't wanted or believed in.

As I had completed all of my coursework to a high standard throughout the year I gained my Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Education, so the only thing I needed to become a teacher was my Qualified Teachers Status. 

I spent the summer applying for any job possible where I could work with children. I began to volunteer at a local Special Education Needs School while I was looking for work. I'm sure as most people know it is not easy to get a job, even with a first class degree and a PGCE. 

In December I found a job that was perfect for me, I visited the primary school and fell in love with it instantly. The role was Unqualified Teacher, teaching cover lessons across the primary school. I got through to the interview stages and taught a great lesson to a Year 4 class which the Headteacher loved. I was feeling really positive and felt I had presented myself well in the interview, I spoke about my ambitions of becoming a Qualified Teacher and explained that I had already found a course which would enable me to do so. 
That afternoon I eagerly waited for the Head Teachers phone call to confirm what I thought.  But I didn't get the job. 

I was, however, offered a different role within the school, Unqualified Teacher in Nursery.  Of course, I said yes and immediately took the job. I began this job in January of 2018 and have loved going to work every day! It is hard work to have this role and keep on top of all my treatments for my CF but it is definitely worth it, teaching truly is my passion. 

During my time at this school, the Headteacher was very impressed with my passion and hard work and agreed to support me in gaining my Qualified Teacher Status. The school would fund the QTS course during the Summer term of 2019 and I would then be a Qualified Teacher and have a three-year teaching contract with the school. In the meantime, I would continue to teach in Nursery. My dreams were finally becoming a reality! 

The last week of term is busy for all schools and all staff, especially for my Nursery as this is when we conduct our home visits for the next cohort of children. During this busy week, I managed to speak with the Headteacher as she was passing through Nursery regarding a separate matter. She was happy I had asked to speak with her as she said she had been meaning to speak with me. 

So... three days before the end of the school year the Headteacher tells me in a less than 5-minute conversation, that after Christmas my contract will end as there is no longer a capacity to keep me as another member of staff is returning from maternity leave and will be taking my place in Nursery. She then acknowledged what she had promised me in terms of becoming a Qualified Teacher and said, unfortunately, we will not be able to facilitate this.  

As I'm sure you can imagine I was upset but I was very professional and said that I understood the situation, the conversation then ended as she was called away. 

For the rest of that day, I was upset and felt that I would be back to square one after Christmas, and was contemplating applying for a different job where I would be kept on.  

I then decided to turn this negative news into something positive and plan to gain my Qualified Teachers Status while I still have a contact at my school (a school placement is a course requirement), start the course in September and leave as a Fully Qualified Teacher!  

So I now have less than 4 weeks to raise £3600 to pay for my QTS course. This is where I need your help.

Please donate! Any amount you can afford will make a huge difference to my life and help me to FINALLY achieve my dream. 

Love Berny xoxo