Each year around 16,000 student teachers get the chance to hone their skills in the classroom on school placements, and there are key ways to make the best of the experience.

“Learning to teach is like being on an emotional roller coaster with highs and lows following each other in close succession,” says Val Brooks, Deputy Director of graduate studies, Institute of Education, Warwick University. For that reason, she says, it's really important to learn how to 'ride' the emotions, especially the lows. “These need to be treated as learning opportunities rather than being allowed to eat away at your self-confidence.”

Anna Horry, mentor to postgraduate certificate in education students at The Leventhorpe School, Sawbridgeshire, in Hertfordshire agrees: “When you take a risk and try something new you get a real buzz, but equally if it doesn’t go as you expected don’t despair as you can learn from this.” The important thing is to be bold and adventurous on your teaching practice because your opportunities to do this as a qualified teacher will be limited due to accountability, she says.

Workload worries affect most students and the trick is to be organized. “Try to stay on top of all your coursework so that when you get an assignment from college or need to draw up teaching plans, you do it straight away,” recommends Clare Formosa, PGCE student from London.

Don’t forget to follow up any query that arises during teaching practice, is the advice of Sarah Boggis, graduate teacher programme student, from London. “Ask lots of questions because there’s so much mind-boggling education jargon,” she says.

Sarah also suggests students keep up their spirits up by ignoring any staffroom cynics and meeting up with positively minded people: in short, that newly qualified teachers take care of themselves. “Make sure you make time for yourself - teacher training can eat away at your life. It doesn't benefit you or the students for you to be exhausted,” says Kathryn Nott, PGCE student at University of Exeter. “Relax, get sleep and come into school wanting to make the best of every day - even if you have worksheets and lesson plans coming out of your ears!”

Anna Horry’s hot tips:

• Blend theory with practice
  Everything you learn at college is relevant to the classroom, so always try to marry the two together. For instance, you may have read an inspiring article about assessment so why not plan to use the techniques during your school placement?
  
• Work with your mentor
  Mentoring is a two way process and mentors get just as much out of the relationship as the trainee. So don’t be afraid to discuss your amazing ideas and take an active part in charting your own progress. For example, my current trainee and I are planning together, a gifted and talented history day.
  
• Quality not quantity
  Don’t make the mistake of trying to prove that you can cope with a full timetable quickly; instead focus on quality not quantity. A few well planned, focused, evaluated and analysed lessons can be worth more than lots of ‘brute force’ lessons.
  
• Use observations
  Often trainees spend time at the beginning of their practice observing other teachers. It’s worth repeating observations towards the end of the placement, too, as you’ll have a better idea of your own strengths and weaknesses and what to look out for.
  

Anna Horry is a mentor to PGCE History students. She has been a qualified teacher for three years and is currently head of politics and citizenship at Leventhorpe School, in Hertfordshire.