Louise Gale’s journey of impact at Deneholm Primary School

SWECET sees significant potential in its new teachers, and I believe that's crucial for retaining talented educators in the profession.

This month, we put the SWECET Spotlight on Louise, a dedicated Classroom Teacher at Deneholm Primary School.

Her five-year journey within the Trust is a testament to her passion for teaching. Join us as Louise shares insights into her career, her love of teaching, and what makes Deneholm and SWECET so special.

Could you tell us about your career journey so far?

“I’ve been a teacher for four years now. What’s interesting is that I also trained at Deneholm School, so counting that, this will be my fifth year here and within SWECET.

As I started during one of the COVID lockdowns, I did most of my training online, using Google Classroom. Whilst it was hard to essentially train to be a teacher through a screen, I was really fortunate because my mentor was incredibly supportive.

We were back in school by March, and I finished my course in early May. I was lucky enough to be offered a job on the spot!”

What made you want to stay at Deneholm Primary School after your training?

“Deneholm Primary School is full of such compassionate people. Every person I’ve worked with just genuinely wants to help. It might sound cliché, but it feels like family here. I’ve completed work experience in other schools when I was younger, but they didn’t have the same vibrancy. Everybody works well together, from support and office staff to teachers.

We’re all driven by the same vision; we have the children’s best interests at heart and continually champion each other.

Beyond our shared goals, Deneholm gives us the chance to enjoy one another’s company. We connect and have fun, playing games and taking part in friendly competitions.”

What inspired you to become a teacher?

“It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was the age of the children I teach now… about five or six years old!

My family always joke that only I would have a passion at six years old and stick to it.

There truly was never any other path for me. I pursued a Psychology degree at university, primarily to diversify my experience, but it provided a surprisingly strong foundation for my chosen career. The programme honed my understanding of child development, communication techniques, and analytical thinking.

I was equipped with skills that were useful for my teaching practice, and as soon as I completed it, I went straight into my PGCE. I knew I wanted to teach, so I went for it!”

What is your favourite thing about your role?

“It’s definitely the children. Every day, you make a difference. It might not be academically; you could simply be a child’s constant when they’re going through a tough time at home. It’s that stability which makes me enjoy working with younger children. In Year 1 especially, the change you see is incredible. Children come from reception’s free-flowing, play-based learning, to a much more structured school environment.

The true joy comes from watching a child who started in autumn evolve into a completely different person, knowing you played a role in their growth. It’s a rare and powerful form of job fulfilment, seeing such a direct and positive impact unfold in the space of a year.

Even on the harder days, when you go home wondering what happened, you come back, and there’s always something to laugh about with the children. We’re all in this together, at Deneholm and across SWECET. Everyone is working towards one goal: what’s best for the children, and I just love that.”

How has SWECET supported your professional growth?

“It’s very collaborative across the three primary schools. Being part of SWECET really widens your opportunities. I know people who have moved between schools within the Trust to pursue leadership roles when they weren’t available at their initial school.

Being able to do this allows for more growth and a wider network of people. It gives us the opportunity to engage in collaborative training, where you can talk to like-minded people and learn from them. As a Year 1 teacher and only relying on one year group partner, it’s great to know that if I hit a brick wall, there are plenty of colleagues who are only an email away, or who I can speak face-to-face at collaborative training.

Even though I’m only in my fourth year of teaching, essentially my second year as a fully qualified teacher, I've already been given significant opportunities. For instance, I’m currently Year Group Lead. This role initially started as maternity cover, but I’ve been able to stay in it permanently. SWECET put a lot of faith in me and gave me the confidence to believe I could do it and excel, especially given my relatively short experience.

I'm also the Co-Lead for phonics and I'm learning constantly. I have one-on-one time with a reading consultant, gaining professional advice and a deep understanding of early reading. I regularly attend training sessions and recently completed a Read Write Inc. course last year to learn more about being a reading lead. The Senior Leadership Team here gives you so many opportunities to show what you can do; they genuinely trust your abilities and empower you to take initiative.

SWECET also has a brilliant well-being plan for us. We have the chance to enjoy well-being days and coming up soon is our end-of-year celebration. We put a lot in, but we get so much back.”

• Read more about SWECET’s well-being charter, here.

Looking back, what are you most proud of?

“I’d have to say two things. First, the ongoing connection with the children. Pupils I taught in Year 2, who are now in Year 6 come back to proudly announce their news, and it’s just incredibly rewarding to see – it means you’ve made a lasting impact.

I’m also proud of how quickly I’ve progressed to Year Group Lead. The Trust has given me the platform to advance in a way that most teachers with only a few years of experience don’t get to. My story isn’t unique; there are lots of similar success stories within the Trust.

SWECET sees potential in new teachers, and I think that’s key to keeping talented educators in the profession. Whilst teaching naturally comes with its pressures, the Senior Leadership Team does an excellent job at alleviating many of them, allowing you to focus entirely on performing your role well. They truly make a difference.”

• Read more about SWECET’s continuous professional development opportunities, here.