How I felt as a teacher trainer in the pandemic

A spotlight on a small covid virus casting a large silhouette on a wall

Source: © Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images

A chemistry lead from a PGCE recalls how they adapted to lockdowns and reflects on what that experience means for teacher training now

Covid-19 hit educators like a freight train. When schools shut, teachers had to be ready to deliver a new kind of lesson. And for teacher trainers on initial teacher education programmes, this meant their course delivery needed to transform overnight. Despite the challenges, trainees responded with determination and resilience. Here, University of Cambridge PGCE course chemistry lead Jo Haywood shares key snippets of their journey, as well as lessons learned and what she believes this means for their education delivery going forward.

Thanks for using Education in Chemistry. You can view one Education in Chemistry article per month as a visitor. 

A photograph of a teacher standing in a white lab coat, speaking with a class of children in a laboratory, is superimposed on a colourful background. Text reads "Teach Chemistry means support for classroom and staff room".

Register for Teach Chemistry for free, unlimited access

Registration is open to all teachers and technicians at secondary schools, colleges and teacher training institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Get all this, plus much more:

  • unlimited access to resources, core practical videos and Education in Chemistry articles
  • teacher well-being toolkit, personal development resources and online assessments
  • applications for funding to support your lessons

Already a Teach Chemistry member? Sign in now.

Not eligible for Teach Chemistry? Sign up for a personal account instead, or you can also access all our resources with Royal Society of Chemistry membership.