A Middlesex University teaching apprentice, whose career change was inspired by supporting her autistic son, is preparing to qualify as a primary school teacher this year.
Anna Karniadaki is on the University’s Postgraduate Certificate Apprenticeship in Primary Education, a one-year route into teaching for graduates which allows apprentices to do a paid role while studying to become a teacher.
Anna, who lives in Mill Hill, studied hospitality and marketing, but changed her career ambitions after she had her son, now 13, who is autistic and was non-verbal until age four.
She took courses to support him and seeing his progress inspired her to go into education. When he joined a primary school in Edgware, Anna volunteered to help pupils with special educational needs (SEN) and became a teaching assistant. She enrolled on a Bachelor of Education degree at Middlesex University to develop her skills and jumped at opportunity to join the apprenticeship programme via her school.
Speaking during National Apprenticeship Week 9-15 February, Anna said: “I loved being a teaching assistant but I wanted to make a bigger contribution as a qualified teacher so the degree apprenticeship sounded perfect.”
She studies at the University’s Hendon campus one day a week and works as a trainee teacher in school four days a week. She leads lessons for 10 pupils with special educational needs, some of whom need one-to-one support. She will also complete a placement in mainstream classes.
“Colleagues observe our lessons at school and at university all the tutors are supportive and my fellow students are very focused on becoming teachers,” she said.
Degree apprenticeships are well suited to mature students, like Anna, as they combine academic study with paid employment. “We often have bills or mortgages to pay, or children to support. You earn while putting into practice what you study in a real job situation, developing your confidence,” she said.
Middlesex University works with schools across Barnet, London and the Southeast to support teacher training. As well as the PGCert Apprenticeship that Anna is enrolled on, the University will recruit later this year to its new Primary Degree Apprenticeship, a route into primary teaching for non-graduates.
Professor Darryll Bravenboer, Director of Business and Civic Engagement at Middlesex University, said these programmes helped primary schools overcome teacher shortages, which are especially acute in London, increase staff retention and upskill teaching assistants to become qualified teachers.
He said: “Our Primary Teacher Degree Apprenticeship enables schools in Barnet and beyond to retain teaching assistants and learning support staff by training them to be qualified teachers. Apprentices earn while they learn, and the programme gives mature students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds access to professional teaching careers, helping to increase social mobility.”
Anna plans to teach children with special educational needs, although she may move into mainstream education in the future. “Teaching SEN children is my passion,” she said. “It is incredibly rewarding to see how the children respond and develop.”
Anna is immensely proud of her son who now attends a leading grammar school in North London and is fully independent. She credits early intervention for much of his amazing progress. She said: “The right education and interventions can transform children’s lives and teaching apprenticeships support that by giving people access to a rewarding professional career.”
