Trainee teacher John Wright

Experience and Qualifications

I completed an engineering apprenticeship during which time I successfully completed an ONC then HNC in Mechanical and Production Engineering. A Graduate Diploma in Computer Aided Engineering & Automation Technology followed my apprenticeship. My industrial experience is largely in the field of quality control and assurance in the automotive and nuclear industries rising to managerial levels. I am a member of the Chartered Quality Institute

Why did you decide to train to teach engineering?

In reality I had got as far as I wanted in engineering - I had been in it since 1977 and was keen for a change, I have always had an interest in training of young people as they are going to be the engineers of the future and without training how will standards be maintained. Also, I am a single parent and was not really keen on 'rocking the boat' until now when both of my boys are 15 & 18 and are not so reliant on me. Also I have never been a full time student and I thought it was time to give it a try (so far so good!).

In reality my first choice was Maths. However, as time developed and I read more and more about the engineering course and the opportunities that it could give both to my pupils, and me I realised that this was the avenue to follow. The reason that I applied for Maths initially was that I had helped in a school in a math's group and I was a little concerned that the engineering (although academic in the teacher training side) might be a little 'toy town', I am used to engineering as an engineer - it is expensive, often on a grand scale and involves personnel with a wide range of skills. Having seen the resources that are being directed towards engineering in schools I am reassured that the facilities would be available to teach the subject effectively.