Starting your first teaching role as a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) can feel both exciting and overwhelming.
Many new Teachers worry about classroom management, building confidence, and knowing whether they’ve chosen the right career path. In this blog, discover what to expect in your first year as an NQT, learn practical tips for classroom management building confidence, and thriving in your NQT year.
Kate’s path into teaching
Kate graduated in 2023 with a BA in Education and went on to complete her PGCE at Aberystwyth University. Before officially beginning her teaching career, she spent nine months travelling the world, returning to Wales in 2024 to take on her first full year in teaching.
Her passion for education began much earlier during sixth form, when she volunteered at a Special Education School (SEN) in South Wales. This early experience confirmed that teaching was the right path for her, particularly with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) support.
What to expect in your first teaching role
Like many new teachers, Kate felt nervous about stepping into the classroom for the first time. Her role as an NQT was a three-month placement teaching Welsh in a high school. As a trained primary school teacher, the move to secondary felt daunting at first. However, she quickly discovered that her ability to connect with pupils worked in her favour.
By the end of the placement, she had not only enjoyed her experience but gained the confidence teaching older pupils. She later took on a Year 5 class during the summer term, which helped her realise that she could teach confidently across a wide range of ages.
Common challenges for NQTs (and how to overcome them)
Kate’s first year of teaching wasn’t without challenges, but these experiences taught her valuable lessons that other new Teachers can learn from:
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Classroom management: Establishing authority from the very first lesson is crucial. Setting expectations early makes it easier to manage behaviour later.
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Balancing authority with approachability: Kate found that being calm and approachable, while still firm, helped build positive relationships with pupils. Using humour to defuse situations proved more effective than being overly strict.
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Teaching different age groups: Many new Teachers worry about teaching older year groups. Kate overcame this fear by stepping out of her comfort zone, proving to herself that she could adapt and succeed.
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Building confidence: Like many NQTs, Kate was nervous at the start. But each new challenge helped her grow. By the end of her first year, she was confident teaching across both primary and secondary schools.
How working with a teaching agency helps new Teachers
Kate found her first teaching opportunities through Vetro Recruitment, after being recommended to the agency by a deputy headteacher at a local school. Working with an education recruitment agency gave her:
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Consistent and reliable supply work
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Practical support, including help with her DBS check
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Access to a variety of roles, which gave her experience across different schools and age groups
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Ongoing guidance and communication, ensuring she felt supported throughout her placements
Completing your Induction Year with the Education Workforce Council
Alongside gaining classroom experience, your induction year also involves induction sessions with the Education Workforce Council (EWC). These sessions are designed to support you in your first year and ensure you’re developing the skills and confidence needed for a successful teaching career.
To complete your induction, you’ll normally need to build up the equivalent of three full school terms, or 380 sessions (a session = half a day in school). If you’re working through supply, each qualifying session you teach can be counted towards this total, as long as you’re registered with the EWC in the school teacher category and working in a role as a qualified teacher.
At Vetro, we guide you through this process, making sure your hours are logged correctly and that you understand exactly what’s required. We will help you track your sessions, answer questions, and provide the support you need to successfully complete your induction year and move forward with confidence in your teaching career.
Advice for new Teachers starting out
Based on her first-year experience, Kate’s advice to NQTs is simple but powerful:
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Step outside of your comfort zone and take opportunities to teach different age groups.
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Don’t let nerves hold you back - confidence will grow with each lesson you teach.
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Balance authority with positivity; a calm and approachable style can be just as effective as being strict.
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Remember that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Final thoughts
Kate’s journey shows that the first year in teaching is full of learning curves, but also personal growth and rewarding moments. By stepping outside of her comfort zone, embracing each challenge, and working with a supportive recruitment agency, she built the confidence to excel as a Teacher.
If you’re about to start your first year as an NQT and want support finding the right role, Vetro Recruitment can help you build experience, develop your confidence, and find teaching jobs that match your skills and goals.