Returning to the classroom - but this time as teachers - can be a full-circle moment for many aspiring educators. We interviewed two Twyford CofE Alumni who have chosen to train with Teach West London. They share their experiences of studying within the Trust, what inspired them to pursue teaching and the highlights of their training year so far. Read on to discover their journeys and what advice they have for others considering a career in education.
Q&A – Mae’s Journey with Twyford CofE Academies Trust & Teach West London
Which Twyford CofE Academies Trust School did you attend?
I attended William Perkin from 2014 - 2021. I did my GCSEs and A-Levels there.
What did you do next?
Amidst Covid, I went to UCL to study Neuroscience, which was amazing. I really enjoyed it but a little part of me missed William Perkins slightly.
I chose to return to the Trust to train to Teach because I felt like I was getting a really good example of what makes a good teacher. I had incredible teachers growing up and I really admired all the work that they put in. And I thought, if I could become a teacher half as good as the teachers I had, I'd be happy. I was even happier when I discovered I could train at William Perkin school that I went to as a child.
Why have you chosen to return to the Trust to train to teach with Teach West London?
A big highlight of my training year so far would be meeting my year 7 class and the year 7 form that I work closely with particularly because I can remember how daunting it was to come into William Perkin and being that mentor figure for them. So, I feel we're learning together, they're learning how to settle into William Perkin and I'm learning how to forge my identity as a teacher in the school that I used to go to.
If I were to give some advice to a Trust Alumnus that was thinking about training to teach, you get to know Trust schools so well and they’ve got such rigid routine that makes it really easy for you to train a teacher in that environment because you’re so supported with a really solid behaviour system which eliminates the worries of bad behaviour because I feel like that's a big worry of trainee teachers, not being able to control your classes. The support that they provide for trainee teachers in each of the school, I've spoken to other colleagues as well because they’re all connected you get four different tiers of support from the different schools and all of the trainees in the schools are good friends as well, the community is a real thing and you meet some great people.
Q&A – Eddie’s Journey with Twyford CofE Academies Trust & Teach West London
Which Twyford CofE Academies Trust School did you attend?
I went to Twyford CofE Sixth Form from 2015 to 2017.
What did you do next?
After leaving Twyford Sixth Form, I completed an art foundation course and then went on to study Fine Art at university. My time at Twyford was really centred around the art department and the teachers there, it was such a fantastic experience. If it weren’t for that, I might not have pursued art at university.
My art teachers at Twyford were incredibly inspiring, giving me the confidence to experiment with new materials and be ambitious with the scale of my work. I like to think I now have similar conversations with some of the older Year 11 students I teach, it doesn’t seem that long ago that I was in their seat!
After university, I worked in various jobs, including as a teaching assistant in a local primary school. I loved that experience and enjoyed connecting with the children, working one-on-one and teaching small groups in English and Maths. This experience made me seriously consider a career in teaching, and for a while, I was torn between Primary and Secondary education. I’m glad I chose Secondary, as it allows me to use my art specialism to help pupils develop curiosity and creativity while also learning about the world around them.
I had an amazing time at school, I loved every aspect of it and still remember the teachers who had the biggest impact on me, especially my biology and art teachers at Twyford. Some of my fondest and most academically stimulating years were at Twyford. During those two years of Sixth Form, I felt like the teachers really treated us like adults. I saw how, when everything was running smoothly and there was a positive atmosphere in the classroom, teaching looked like a truly rewarding job!
Why have you chosen to return to the Trust to train to teach with Teach West London?
I first heard about Teach West London through a family friend who teaches at one of the Trust schools. Knowing the high level of professionalism and teaching quality I experienced as a student in the Trust, I assumed the teacher training would be just as rigorous and carefully structured as the lessons I once received.
After researching the program and attending induction days in the summer, I quickly saw that my assumption was correct! The support and structure provided by Teach West London have been fantastic.
Can you share a key highlight of your training year so far?
It’s hard to pick just one! In general, getting to know my Year 7 classes has been wonderful, we were all new to the school at the same time, which created a unique bond. Seeing pupils eager to share their answers and show their work is always heart warming.
A specific highlight has been the progress my Year 9 class has made since I took them on in March. They’ve been very receptive to feedback and are currently improving their layering skills with acrylic paint. Since they’re a small and somewhat shy class, I’ve been working on getting them to open up and engage in more collaborative discussions. Positive encouragement has been key, and it’s great to see them becoming more comfortable over time.
One of the best moments in any teacher’s day - trainee or otherwise - is a strong start to a lesson. It sets the tone and allows me to recognize and reinforce positive engagement through questioning and dialogic teaching. I like to ask a mix of accessible and more challenging questions, sometimes requiring pupils to synthesize knowledge from different subjects. Even if a Year 7 student can’t fully articulate an answer, I believe in challenging them to think critically. I always share my own thoughts afterward, phrased in a speculative, curious way to encourage further discussion.
Recently, I had a great discussion with my Year 7s about Olafur Eliasson’s work Ice Watch. At the start, two-thirds of the class didn’t like it. But after exploring public art, conceptual art, and art activism - and learning more about Eliasson’s practice - that number dropped to about half. Both opinions are valid, but it was great to see students reconsider their perspectives!
This discussion tied perfectly into their current project, where they’re creating artwork about climate change. They’re combining watercolour paintings of endangered animals with line graphs showing the impact of environmental destruction. Through this, they’re not only learning new techniques but also understanding the role of artists in society.
For me, the most exciting part is watching pupils engage with real-world issues through art. It reinforces the idea that art isn’t just about technique, it has meaning and purpose.
What would you say to a Trust alumnus who is considering training to teach?
I would say—go for it! You’ll be in safe hands with Teach West London.
Train to Teach with us in September 2025 - apply now.